S&SSSSs!$&§ 




Glass Q.LUIS 

Book HI & 3 



OFFICIAL DONATION. 



Published monthly by the 

University of the State of New York 

BULLETIN 278 FEBRUARY 1903 



New York State Museum 

Frederick J. H. Merrill Director 

Bulletin 60 
ZOOLOGY 9 

CATALOGUE OE THE 

FISHES OF NEW YORK 



TARLETON H. BEAN M.S. M.D. 



PAGE 

Preface 3 

Introduction 5 

Marsipobranchii, lampreys n 

Hyperoartii, lampreys n 

Pisces, the fishes 17 

Asterospondyli, typical sharks 17 

Cyclospondyli, cyclospondylous sharks.... 43 

Batoidei, rays 46 

Selachostomi, paddlefishes 60 

Chondrostei, sturgeons 63 

Rhomboganoidea, gar pikes 69 

Cycloganoidea, bowfins 73 

Nematognathi, catfishes 76 

Plectospondyli, carplike fishes 97 



PAGE 

Apodes, eels 169 

Isospondyli, isospondylous fishes 177 

Iniomi, lantern fishes 285 

Haplomi, pikelike fishes 287 

Synentognathi, synentognathous fishes ... . 317 

Hemibranchii, half -gills .... 335 

Lophobranchii, tuftgills 347 

Acanthopteri, spiny-rayed fishes .... 351 

Plectognathi, fishes with ankylosed jaws . . 608 

Pediculati, pediculate fishes 733 

Recorded distribution of New York 

fishes 739 

Index 7tf> , , 

', JO I \ , 






ALBANY 

UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
1903 



Mio4m-Jaa-T5oo 



V *.»?•! 



Price $1 



University of the State of New York 

REGENTS 
With years of election 

1892 William Croswell Doane D.D. LL.D. 

Chancellor, Albany 
1878 Whitelaw Reid M.A. LL.D. Vice Chancellor - New York 
1873 Martin I. Townsend M.A. LL.D. - - Troy 

1877 Chauncey M. Depew LL.D. _ _ _ _ New York 
1877 Charles E. Fitch LL.B. M.A. L.H.D - - Rochester 
1881 William H. Watson M.A. M.D. LL.D. - - Utica 
1881 Henry E. Turner LL.D. - Lowville 

1883 St Clair McKelway M.A. L.H.D. LL.D. D.C.L. Brooklyn 
1885 Daniel Beach Ph.D. LL.D. - - - Watkins 

1888 Carroll E. Smith LL.D. - - - - - Syracuse 
1890 Pliny T. Sexton LL.D.- - Palmyra 

1890 T. Guilford Smith M.A. CE. LL.D. - - Buffalo 

1893 Lewis A. Stimson B.A. LL.D. M.D. - - New York 
1895 Albert Vander Veer M.A. Ph.D. M.D. - - Albany 
1895 Charles R. Skinner M.A. LL.D. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction, ex officio 
1897 Chester S. Lord M.A. LL.D. - Brooklyn 

1900 Thomas A. Hendrick M.A. LL.D. - - - Rochester 

1901 Benjamin B. Odell jr LL.D. Governor, ex officio 

1 90 1 Robert C Pruyn M.A. _____ Albany 

1902 William Nottingham M.A. Ph.D. - - - Syracuse 

1903 Frank W. Higgins Lieutenant Governor, ex officio 
1903 John F. O'Brien Secretary of State, ex officio 

1903 Charles A. Gardiner B.A. LL.B. Ml. Ph.D. - New York 



« SECRETARY 
Elected by Regents 

/900 James Russell Parsons jr M.A. LL.D. 

directors of departments 
188S Melvi,.. Dewey M.A. LL.D. State Library and Home Education 
1890 James Russell Parsons jr M.A. LL.D. 

Administrative, College and High School Defts 
1890 Frederick J. H. Merrill Ph.D. State Museum 



1903 

D. ofD. 



University of the State of New York 



New York State Museum 

Frederick J. H. Merrill Director 

Bulletin 60 

ZOOLOGY 9 



CATALOGUE OF THE 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



PREFACE 

In 1836, under the influence of public interest, Secretary of 
State John A. Dix presented to the legislature a plan for a 
natural history survey of the state, which was carried out with 
success and credit and resulted in the publication of a large 
number of valuable reports. Not the least important of these 
were the contributions of James E. De Kay to the zoology of 
New York, which appeared in 1842 and 1843. 

Since that time comparatively little official recognition had 
been given to the progress of biologic study, till in 1897 the 
writer secured the able services of Mr Gerrit S. Miller jr in 
preparing a preliminary list of New York mammals. Follow- 
ing this appeared in October 1900 a key to the land mammals of 
northeastern North America by the same author, and in April 
1900 a check list of the birds of New York by Dr Marcus S. Farr, 
who is now engaged in the preparation of a detailed catalogue 
of the birds of New York. A list of reptiles and batrachians by 
Messrs Eckel and Paulmier has recently appeared; and in the 
present bulletin Dr Tarleton H. Bean gives to the citizens of the 
state the benefit of his natural talent and long training as an 



4 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

ichthyologist. It is hoped and believed that the results of this 
work will be of much practical use to the public at large and to 
the teachers and students in the schools of the state. 

By special request of the author his synonymies are printed 
in the form in which they were prepared by him. 

Frederick J. H. Merrill 

Albany N. Y. July 1902 



INTRODUCTION 

New York has an extensive water area and a great diversity 
of surface. Its principal drainage basins are: the Great lakes, 
the St Lawrence river, including Lake Champlain,the Ohio basin, 
the Susquehanna, the Delaware, the Hudson and several small 
streams adjacent to it in the southeastern part of the state. 
The inland lakes, in the central and western part of the 
state, almost all communicate with Lake Ontario. Chautauqua 
lake belongs to the Ohio basin. Lake Otsego and two small 
lakes east of Keuka lake, empty into the Susquehanna. The 
Adirondack lakes for the most part belong to the St Lawrence 
drainage basin, s'ome of them emptying into Lake Champlain, 
and a few into the upper waters of the Hudson. 

Long Island has a larger number of species than all the re- 
mainder of the state. The number of marine species in its 
waters is 217, and its fresh waters contain 27 species, of which 
13 have been recently introduced. 

In the bays of the south side of the island, wherein the water 
is brackish or nearly fresh, and where there is a luxuriant 
growth of water plants, young menhaden and alewives are ex- 
tremely abundant. 

One of the fresh-water fishes is a hybrid trout, artifically pro- 
duced; another is the black-nosed dace, which is perhaps doubt- 
fully recorded from Long Island; and 13 species have been 
recently introduced, as before remarked. 

The permanent residents in fresh water are the following: 
horn pout, chub sucker, roach, brook trout, striped mud minnow, 
banded' pickerel, chain pickerel, fresh-water killy, pirate perch, 
fresh-water silverside, sunfish, yellow perch, and Johnny darter. 
Most of these 13 species, or perhaps all of them, could easily 
have been introduced by man within the last century or two. 

Mitchill recorded only three fresh-water species from Long 
Island. These are: yellow perch, brook trout and pickerel. To 
the pickerel he applied the name Esox lucius, a species 



6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

which does not occur on the island. He mentioned also the 
bony-scaled pike, Esox osseus, concerning which he says:: 
k 'A few years ago I had a large and complete specimen from 
Long Island, which agrees in the main with the descriptions. 
extant." This was doubtless a mistake of locality. The yellow 
perch was transplanted by Mitchill in 1790 from Ronkonkoma 
pond to Success pond, in Queens county, a distance of 40 miles. 
Prior to 1790, he states, there were no yellow perch in Success 
pond. De Kay also knew only a few species of fresh-water 
fishes in Long Island waters — the yellow perch, roach, banded 
pickerel, and brook trout. 

It seems probable that some of the early writers on New York 
fishes must have had access to collections from Long Island^ 
and yet a number of species might have existed without dis- 
covery during the time of their observations. The present num- 
ber of species whose date of introduction is not recorded is very 
small, and most of the so called native fishes represent species, 
which lend themselves readily to the purpose of artificial intro- 
duction. 

It is a matter of record that some species of fresh-water 
fishes identical with those found in Long Island waters, have 
been swept out of the Hudson river by spring floods, and several 
such species have been seen at Gravesend bay, Long Island. It 
is certain that incursions of fresh-water forms could have taken 
place from time to time in the streams of the north side, and 
also on the south side of Long Island. Once established in that 
way, their wider dissemination through the agency of man, 
aquatic birds, and even through their own movements could be 
very easily accomplished. 

Of the fresh-water fishes known to Mitchill and De Kay, the 
brook trout can live in fresh and salt water indifferently; the 
chain pickerel is frequently found in brackish water; the yellow 
perch is one of the fish which have been brought down from the 
Hudson by floods into Gravesend bay; the roach is a common 
resident of lakes in New York and Brooklyn parks, and its dis- 
tribution has been greatly extended through the agency of man. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK I 

The number of fishes included in this catalogue is 375, of which 
371 are named, and the following four, which have only recently 
been discovered in the state, should be added to the. list: no. 76V 
bullhead minnow, no. 91^ silver-jawed minnow, no. 91J silver 
chub, no. 255J northern darter. Of these species 217 are marine, 
111 fresh-water, and 17 anadromous. The number of intro- 
duced species is 15, and the number whose occurrence in Xew 
York waters is doubtful is 18. The small number of fresh- 
water species would be remarkable but for the fact that no 
•extensive investigations have recently been made of the fresh 
waters of the interior of the state, and the catalogue is in that 
respect simply incomplete. 

The anadromous species are the following: no. 1 sea lamprey, 
no. 35 common sturgeon, no. 37 short-nosed sturgeon, no. 101 
eel. no. 112 hickory shad, no. 113 branch herring, no. 114 glut 
herring, no. 115 shad, no. 130 quinnat salmon, no. 131 Atlantic 
salmon, no. 131 steelhead, no. 137 rainbow trout, no. 113 smelt, 
no. 170 10-spined stickleback, no. 171 two-spined stickleback, 
no. 260 striped bass, no. 261 white perch. Besides these, the 
following marine species occasionally run up into fresh water 
for shorter or longer distances: no. 158 silver gar, no. 223 blue- 
fish, no. 221 crab-eater, no. 321 naked goby, no. 316 tomcod, 
no. 368 hogchoker. 

The introduced species are: no. 71 tench, no. 71 golden ide, 
no. 99 goldfish, no. 100 carp, no. 130 quinnat salmon, no. 131 At- 
lantic salmon, no. 132 landlocked salmon, no. 133 Lake Tahoe 
trout, no. 131 steelhead, no. 135 brown trout, no. 136 Lochleven 
trout, no. 137 rainbow trout, no. 138 Swiss lake trout, no. 141 
saibling, no. 142 golden trout. 

The fishes whose pertinence to the Xew York fauna is doubt- 
ful are the following: no. 73 Leuciscus mar gar it a, 
no. 162 longbeak, no. 208 amberfish, no. 226 small dolphin, no. 262 
wreckfish, no. 233 spotted grouper, no. 265 coachman, no. 290 
Zenopsis, no. 301 globefish, no. 302 hairy bowfish. no. 303 bur- 
fish, no. 317 sea poacher, no. 327 shanny, no. 328 blenny, no. 329 
snakefish, no. 337 red gurnard, no. 356 cusk, no. 359 rough dab. 



8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The fishes represent 99 families. The .lampreys include 4 
species; the sharks 18 species; the catfishes 14 species, of which 
2 are marine; suckers 9 species; minnows or carps 39 species; 
herrings 10 species; salmon family, which includes the trout 
and whitefish, 20 species, one half of which number have been 
introduced; pikes 6 species; killy fishes 5 species; sticklebacks 

5 species; silversides 5 species; the mackerel family 10 species;, 
the pompano family 18 species; sunfishes 13 species; perches,, 
including the darters, 17 species; sea basses 8 species; weakfisk 
family 10 species; sculpins 8 species, equally divided between 
the fresh and salt waters; sea robins 5 species, one of which, 
the red gurnard, probably never occurred in our waters, though 
it has been assigned to New York; codfishes 12 species, one of 
them a permanent resident in fresh water; flounders 10 species,. 
but one of these is of doubtful occurrence. 

The species whose existence in New York waters has only 
recently been reported, and which are not numbered in this 
catalogue, are the bullhead minnow, Cliola vigilax Baird 

6 Girard, the silver-jawed minnow, Ericymba buccata 
Cope, silver chub, Hybopsis amblops Rafinesque, and 
the northern darter, Etheostoma bore ale Jordan. The 
first three of these species have been found in the western part 
of New York, and the northern darter has been recorded in the 
basin of St Lawrence river, from Montreal to Lake Ontario. 

The names used in this catalogue are substantially those 
employed by Jordan and Evermann in bulletin 47, United States 
National Museum ; and I am indebted to these authors for many 
of the descriptions of the genera. There are some departures, 
however, from the names employed in that bulletin, for reasons 
which appear to me satisfactory; for example, the name 
Etrumeus sadina is discarded for the round herring, 
and the specific name teres of De Kay is used in its stead,, 
because MitchilPs type bore a close resemblance to the shad. 
It has a spot behind the gill cover, a wide and toothless mouthy 
a projecting lower jaw, and 15 anal rays. There is no prob- 
ability that Mitchill had the round herring before him for this 
description. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 9 

The glut herring in my list is called Clupea cyanonoton 
Storer; Mitchill's name, aestivalis, appears to be a synonym 
ofmediocris and mattowaca of the same author. Its 
relation to the hickory shad was long since pointed out by Dr 
Gill. Mitchill stated that the fish has seven or eight dark 
roundish spots extending in the direction of the lateral line. 
His figure shows a row of eight dark spots on the side extending 
to the end of the dorsal fin on the level of the eye. 

The name Coregonus labradoricus, for the Labra- 
dor whitefish, is omitted because that species is identical with 
the common whitefish. The characters by which the Labrador 
whitefish were supposed to be distinguished are untenable, pre- 
cisely the same characters being found in the whitefish and 
there being no other basis of separation. 

The author has discovered that Kirtlandia laciniata 
Swain is identical with K. vagrans Goode & Bean. 

The species Querimana gyrans is believed to be the 
young of Mugil trichodon Poey ; and the genus Queri- 
mana was found to be the young state of Mugil. 

The name Neomaenis blackfordi is retained for the 
red snapper for the reasons clearly given in the 19th Report of 
the Commissioners of Fisheries of New York, 1890. There is 
absolutely no proof that the name a y a should be applied to 
this species. 

The synonymy given for the species is limited usually to 
authors who wrote specially on the fishes of New York, or ad- 
jacent regions, and to the well known general catalogues of 
recent writers on ichthyology. One principal aim has been to 
give as many references as possible to illustrations of species. 

The descriptions of the fishes are based chiefly on collections 
studied by the author, many of which were obtained in his own 
field work. The results of investigations made by parties for 
the United States Fish Commission have also been incorporated 
in the text. 

Illustrations of the species would have added greatly to the 
report; but the time was not available for obtaining drawings 



10 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

for this purpose. Artificial keys also would have beeu an addi- 
tional advantage; but, as references are given in every case to 
bulletins 16 and 47 of the United States National Museum, which 
contain complete series of artificial keys, this feature was 
omitted. 

The author hopes ere long to prepare a new account of the 
fishes of New York, containing illustrations of all the species, 
together with keys for identification, but can not complete such 
an undertaking till after the inland waters of the state have 
been more thoroughly and systematically investigated. 

Tarleton H. Bean 
Washington D. C. 1902 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 11 

Class MARSIPOBRANCHII 

Order hyperoartii 
Family petromyzontidae 
Lampreys 
Genus petromyzox (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Lampreys with the supraoral lamina armed with two or three 
separate teeth, pointed, and close together, not forming a cres- 
cent-shaped plate; anterior lingual tooth with a median depres- 
sion; buccal disk large, with numerous teeth arranged in con- 
centric series; dorsal fins separate, the second joined to the 

caudal. 

1 Petromyzon marinus Linnaeus 

Great Sea Lamprey ; Lamprey Eel 

Petromijzon marinus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 230, 1758; Mitchill, 

Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 461, 1815; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

Mus. VIII, 501, 1870; Jordan & Gilbert. Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mns. 

11, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 10, pi. I, fig. 

3, 1896. 
Petromi/zon americanus Le Sueur, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila. I, 383, 181S; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 379, pi. 66. fig. 216, 1842; Storer, Hist. 

Fish. Mass. 275, pi. XXXYIII, fig. 4. 1867. 
Petromy.zan appendix De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 381. pi. 64, fig. 211, 

1842 (young). 

Body cylindric, eellike, stout, somewhat compressed behind. 
The mouth is terminal, subcircular in shape and suctorial. It 
is strongly armed with large conical teeth or cusps mounted on 
papillae, those of the inner series being bicuspid. Guarding the 
throat are crescent-shaped plates, bearing pectinate lingual 
teeth; a pair of these plates on either side and another pair 
below them. The mandibulary plate has seyen cusps. 

There are seyen branchial apertures on each side of the head, 
the first not far behind the eye ; the distance of the last opening 
from the tip of the snout is contained about fiye times in the 
total length. Eye rather small, coyered by membrane. The 
first dorsal originates in about the middle of the length; it is 
little deueloped and well separated from the second dorsal 
which is confluent with the anal. The anal is yery low and 



12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

only about half as long as the second dorsal. The vent is far 
back, opposite the origin of the second dorsal. 

The specimen described, number 10654 in the U. S. National 
Museum collection, is 28 inches long. 

The sea lamprey or lamprey eel inhabits the north Atlantic, 
ascending streams to spawn and sometimes becoming land- 
locked. In some interior waters of New York the landlocked 
form has received the name, u n i c o 1 o r , of De Kay. The 
species ranges southward on our coast to Virginia. In the Dela- 
ware, Susquehanna and their tributaries this is a common fish. 
Its larval form, which is blind and toothless, is extremely 
abundant in muddy sandflats near the mouths of small streams 
and is a very important bait for hook and line fishing. 

The sea lamprey grows to a length of 3 feet. It is dark brown 
in color, mottled with black and white. In the breeding season in 
spring the males have a high fleshy ridge in front of the dorsal. 
The spawning is believed to take place in May or June. The 
eels cling to the rocks by means of their suctorial mouths and 
the eggs are deposited in shallow water on a rough bottom 
where the current is swift. Some observers state that they 
make nests by heaping up stones in a circle and deposit the 
eggs under the stones. The ovaries are large, but the eggs are 
very small. 

The food of the lamprey is chiefly animal matter and the fish 
is somewhat of a parasite, burrowing into the side of shad, 
sturgeon and some other species. The teeth are adapted for 
this method of feeding. The tooth-bearing bone of the upper 
side of the mouth contains two teeth which are placed close 
together. On the bone corresponding with the lower jaw there 
are seven or nine stout cusps. There are numerous teeth 
around the disk, the first row on the side of the mouth con- 
taining bicuspid teeth; the others are simple. The tooth on 
the front of the tongue has a deep median groove. The species 
is adapted for fastening itself to other fishes and extracting 
from them their blood. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK IS 

The lamprey is considered a good food fish in some localities, 
but in other places it is rarely eaten. In Connecticut and 
Massachusetts the species is highly esteemed. It is preserved 
by salting for several weeeks before using. The fish is some- 
times caught with the hands or by means of a pole armed with 
a hook in the end. As it is found in shallow water and will 
not usually relinquish its hold on the bottom, its capture is 
easily effected. 

The sea lamprey has been obtained in Gravesend bay in small 
numbers in March, April and June. It is not adapted to cap- 
tivity because of the impracticability of furnishing it with 
proper food. 

2 Petromyzon marinus unicolor (DeKay) 
Lake Lamprey 

Ammocoetes unicolor De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 383, pi. 79, fig. 250, 1842. 
Petromyzon marinus subsp. dorsatus Wilder in Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 

16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 869, 1882. 
Petromyzon marinus unicolor Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 284, 1886; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 10, 1896. 

De Kay described this lamprey under the name Ammocoe- 
tes unicolor in Zoology of New York; or the New York Fauna r 
pt 4, Fishes, p. 383, pi. 79, fig. 250. His description was made 
from a specimen 4 inches long and -nr of an inch in depth. 
The plate represents it as having the dorsal scarcely percept- 
ible, beginning to rise at about the middle of its length, but 
at no point exceeding -rs of an inch in hight. The anal is sim- 
ilar to the dorsal and like the latter continuous with the caudaL 
Dr De Kay received specimens from the Eev. Zadock Thompson,, 
who obtained them from Lake Champlain. 

This variety is distinguished from the common marine lam- 
prey only by its size, its uniform dark coloration, more pro- 
nounced dorsal ridge, and the less degree of separation of the 
dorsal fins. It inhabits the lakes of northern and central New 
York and is not anadromous. 

Prof. Seth E. Meek has published in the Annals of the Neio 
York Academy of Sciences 4:299, the following notes on the 
species. 



14: NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The lake laniprey is found in larger numbers than the brook 
lamprey, and reaches a much larger size. 

During the spring of 1886 more than a thousand individuals 
were taken from Cayuga lake inlet, and all of them within 5 
miles of Ithaca. They began to ascend the inlet to spawn on 
May 21, and continued to do so until late in June. 

Their nests are excavations made in the bed of the stream, 
in shallow water, usually just above ripples. The eggs are 
deposited in the fine sand and gravel at the bottom of these 
nests, and the embryos developed there. The larvae live in the 
sand along the edge of the stream just below the water line. 
This species is parasitic on bullheads, suckers, and other large, 
soft-rayed fishes. 

Of the whole number captured and brought to the university 
by fishermen within two weeks, 480 were males and 265 females. 

The longest male specimen was 17 inches, and the shortest 
9 inches. The longest female measured 14 inches, and the short- 
est 10 inches. A small female 7 inches long, taken later, con- 
tained eggs which were quite immature. 

During the spring a crest is developed upon the back of the 
male between the nape and the dorsal fin. A smaller crest is 
developed upon the ventral surface of the female, between the 
vent and the caudal fin. This was at first supposed to be char- 
acteristic of the males of Cayuga lake, and was made the basis 
of a new specific name; but it has since been found in specimens 
from the Atlantic slope, and it is said by Seeley to occur in 
European specimens during the breeding season. This crest 
is seasonal and sexual. The sexes, at other seasons, can not 
be easily distinguished, if at all. 

More recent accounts of this lamprey are those of Prof. H. A. 

Surface in the Bulletin U. S. Fish Commission for 1897 and the 

Jfth annual Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and 

Forest of the State of Xew York. 

Genus ichthyomyzon Girard 
Differs from Petromyzon in having the anterior lingual 
tooth divided by a median groove and the dorsal fin notched, 
but not separated into two portions. Size small. Habitat, 
fresh waters of eastern United States. 

3 Ichthyomyzon concolor (Kirtland) 

Silver Lamprey 

Ammoccetes concolor Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. III. 473, 1840, 

with plate (larva). 
Petromyzon concolor Jordan & Fordice, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 282, 1886. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 15 

Ielitlujomyzon argenteus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. l(J r 

1882. 
lehthyomyzon ooncolor Jordan & Eyeemam, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mas. 11. 

1896. 

The silver lamprey belongs to the subgenus I c h t h y o m y - 
z o n of Girard. The tooth on the front of the tongue is divided 
in two parts by a median groove and the dorsal fin is continu- 
ous but deeply notched. The maxillary tooth is bicuspid; 
the teeth on the disk are in about four series and all small. 
The tooth-bearing bone of the lower part of the mouth has 
seven cusps. The head (from tip of disk to first gill opening) 
is two fifteenths of the total length; with the gill openings its 
length is contained four and three fourths times in the total. 
There are 51 muscular impressions from gills to vent. The 
body is rather stout, compressed posteriorly. The head is broad 
and the buccal disk large with its edges not conspicuously 
fringed. Color bluish silvery, sometimes with blackish niott- 
lings. Above each gill opening there is a small bluish blotch. 

The silver lamprey or mud eel is found in the Great lakes 
region and the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. It grows to a 
length of 12 inches and is usually found in deep water, but runs 
up the small streams to spawn in the spring. It is a trouble- 
some parasite on the lake sturgeon, the paddlefish, yellow 
perch and some other species. It becomes fixed to the skin by 
means of its suctorial disk and the irritation of its teeth some- 
times causes deep ulcers at the point of attachment. This 
lamprey has the same peculiarities of development as the sea 
lamprey and sometimes remains in the larval condition, blind 
and toothless, till it has reached a length of 8 inches. 

Genus lampetra Gray 

Small lampreys inhabiting brooks of Europe and Xorth Amer- 
ica. The dorsal fin either notched or divided into two parts, 
the posterior part continuous with the anal around the tail; 
supraoral lamina broad, crescentic, with a large obtuse cusp" 
at each end and sometimes a minute median cusp; lingual teeth 
small, with a crescentic toothed edge, the median denticle cm- 



16 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

larged; buccal disk small, with few teeth which are never 
tricuspid. 

The genus Lamipetra is best distinguished from Pe- 
t r o m jzon by the structure of its so called maxillary tooth, 
which has the form of a crescent-shaped plate with terminal 
cusps and, sometimes, an additional median cusp. In Pe- 
tromyzon this bony plate is short and contains two or three 
teeth which are very closely placed. 

4 Lampetra wilderi (Gage) 
Small Black Lamprey; Pride 

Lampetra icilderi Gage, in Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

IS, 1896. 
Petromyzon nigrum Rafinesque, Ich. Ohien. 84, 1820. (Name preoccupied). 
Ammocwtes niger Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 9, 1882. 
Ammoccetes branchialis Jordan & Pordice, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 293, 1886; 

Gage, in Wilder Quarter-Century Book, 436, 1893. 

The high dorsal fin is divided into two parts by a deep notch. 
Several of the teeth on the side of the buccal disk are bicuspid 
and the rest simple. The mandibulary plate is nearly straight 
and has eight or 10 cusps of nearly equal size. The length of 
the head including the gills is contained four and three fourths 
times in the total. There are 67 muscular impressions from gills 
to vent. In the spring a prominent anal papilla is present. The 
head is larger than the space occupied by the gill openings and 
is contained eight and one third times in the total; the depth, 14 
times. The eyes are large; the mouth moderately small. The 
lips are conspicuously fringed with papillae. The teeth change 
considerably with age ; young examples have no median cusp on 
the maxillary plate. 

This lamprey is bluish black above, the lower parts silvery. 

The brook or mud lamprey, also known as the small black 
lamprey, is found in the Great lakes region, the Ohio valley and 
the upper Mississippi valley. It occurs also in Cayuga lake, 
New York. According to Jordan it ranges west to Minnesota 
and south to Kentucky. It grows to a length of 8 inches. Dr 
Jordan considers it identical with the common brook lamprey 
of Europe, A. branchialis. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 17 

This lamprey ascends the small streams in the spring to 
spawn just as the silver lamprey does. It is parasitic and its 
spawning habits are similar to those of the sea lamprey. It 
clings to stones and clods of earth while depositing its eggs and 
is believed by some persons to die after spawning. The prob- 
ability is that it goes to deep water where it remains till the 
spawning season again approaches. 

May 8, 1886, Prof. Gage and Dr Meek caught five specimens in 
Cayuga lake inlet. More of them were seen but not captured. 
May 22 they visited the inlet a second time but saw no speci- 
mens. 

The five individuals obtained were all males, and all were 
busily engaged in building nests. They ascend the inlet to 
spawn about two weeks earlier than the large lake lamprey, and 
in smaller numbers. 

The life history of the brook or small black lamprey is well 
related by Prof. Surface in the articles referred to in the notes 
on the lake lamprey. 

Class PISCES 

Subclass SELACHII 

Sharks and Skates 

Order asterospondyli 

Typical Sha?~ks 
Family pseudotriakidae 
Genus pseudotriakis Capello 
Body elongate; mouth wide, with a very short labial fold 
around the angle; snout depressed, rounded, moderately long; 
nostrils inferior, near the mouth, but not confluent with it; eyes 
oblong, lateral, without nictitating membrane; spiracles well 
developed behind the eye; gill openings moderate, in advance of 
the pectoral; jaws armed with numerous rows of small, tricuspid 
teeth; first dorsal fin, opposite the space between pectorals and 
ventrals, long and low, gradually increasing in hight posteriorly; 
second dorsal behind ventrals, opposite and similar to anal; ven- 
trals and pectorals well developed; no pit at the root of caudal 



18 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

fin, the basal lobe of which is very low and long; skin with 
minute asperities. 

5 Pseudotriakis microdon Capello 
Peixe Carago (Portugal) 

Pseudotrial-is microdon Capello, Jorn. Sci. Math. Phys. e nat. Lisboa, I,. 
321, pi. V, 1868; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit Mus., VIII, 395, 1870; Bean, 
Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. VI, 147, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 27, pi. IV, fig. 14, 1896. 

The greatest hight of the body is at the origin of the first 
dorsal; it is contained eight and three sevenths times in the total 
length. The hight at the origin of ventrals is contained nine 
and one half times in total length. The hight of head at the 
first gill opening is a little greater than that of body at the ven- 
tral origin, while its hight at the angle of the mouth is a little 
less than one eleventh of the total length. The least hight of 
the tail equals the hight of the anal, and is contained 25 times 
in total length. 

The head is somewhat depressed in front, with moderately 
sharp snout, which is nearly twice as long as the distance of its 
tip from the mouth. The distance from snout to last gill open- 
ing is contained five times in total length. The distance from 
snout to first gill opening, measured horizontally, equals twice 
the hight of body at origin of second dorsal. The distance 
between the first and last gill openings equals nearly twice the 
length of the eye. The hight of the first gill opening is about 
equal to the distance between the angle of the mouth and the 
spiracle. The hight of the head at angle of mouth is contained 
11 times and at the first gill opening nine times in total length. 
The length of the snout equals one half the body hight at origin 
of first dorsal. The distance of mouth from snout, measured 
on the axis of the fish, equals one third width of mouth. The 
distance from snout to angle of mouth, obliquely taken, equals 
one fourth the distance from snout to last gill opening. The 
distance between eye and spiracle equals that from mouth to 
nostril. The distance from angle of mouth to spiracle is about 
equal to hight of first gill opening. The spiracle is moderately 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 19 

large, the length of its opening being contained twice in the 
hight of fourth gill opening. The oblong eye is placed near the 
dorsal profile; the length of the orbit is about one half the 
greatest hight of second dorsal; the length of the eye equals 
about one fourth width of mouth. The length of upper jaw is 
slightly more than that of lower, and nearly equals the distance 
between the spiracles. The distance from the mouth to the 
nostril is about one fourth least hight of tail; the distance 
between nostrils equals four times the distance from eye to 
spiracle. The interorbital space equals one half the length of 
second dorsal base. The distance between the spiracles equals 
four times their greatest length. 

The first dorsal is very long and low, highest behind its mid- 
dle, the length of its base equal to seven times its greatest 
hight ; its distance from the snout is a little more than twice the 
greatest length of pectoral. The second dorsal is distant from 
the end of the first a length equal to nearly twice its greatest 
hight; the length of its base is somewhat more than the body 
hight at origin of first dorsal. The second dorsal begins at a 
distance from the end of the first, which is equal to the hight 
of body at ventral origin; the length of its base equals twice the 
interorbital distance ; its hight equals nearly twice the length of 
the orbit. The anal is entirely under the second dorsal, but its 
base is a little less than five sevenths as long as that of the 
latter; the greatest hight of the anal equals the least hight of 
caudal peduncle. 

The caudal originates at a distance from the end of the second 
dorsal about equal to the hight of the anal; it is divided by a 
notch into a short upper portion, whose length is very little 
more than the greatest hight of first dorsal, and a very low and 
long lower portion, the longest margin of which is nearly twice 
as long as the snout. The distance of the caudal from the end 
of anal base equals one fourth the length of second dorsal base. 

The distance of pectoral from snout is contained five times in 
total length; the length of pectoral equals nearly twice the width 
of its base, and is a little more than one ninth of total length. 



20 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The greatest width of pectoral equals twice the hight of anal, 
and is contained 12J times in total length. 

The origin of the ventral is slightly in advance of the end of 
first dorsal, and is behind the middle of total length a distance 
equal to the interorbital space. The length of ventral equals 
that of lower jaw. The width of ventral base equals that of 
pectoral base; the greatest width of ventral slightly exceeds its 
length. I 

Color. When received the margins of the fins were apparently 
faded; the original color was probably grayish brown with dark 
margins on all the fins except the first dorsal. Capello states 
that his example was chestnut brown. 

Remarks. The gills and mouth were obstructed by sand. The 
only parasites discovered on the animal were a couple of 
isopods, one of which was found in the eye cavity. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Total length 

Body 

Hight at origin of first dorsal 

Hight at origin of ventral 

Hight at origin of second dorsal 

Hight at end of ventral base 

'Least hight of caudal peduncle 

Width at origin of first dorsal 

Head 

Distance from tip of snout to first gill opening 

Horizontally 

Obliquely 

Distance from tip of snout to last gill opening. 

Distance from first gill opening to fifth 

Distance from first gill opening to fourth 

Distance from first gill opening to third 

Distance from first gill opening to second 

Hight of first, gill opening 

Hight of second gill opening 

Hight of third gill opening 

Hight of fourth gill opening 

Hight of fifth gill opening 

Hight at angle of mouth 

Hight at first gill opening 

Hight at base of pectoral 



Millimeters 


Hundredths 
oi length 


2950. 


100 


' 350 


12 


310 


10.5 


210 


7 


210 


7 


118 


4 


250 


8.5 


425 


14.4 


450 


15.3 


583 


20 


133 


4.5 


102 




62 




27 




75 




73 




72 




70 




68 




265 


9 


/ ', 325 


11 


342 


11.6 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



21 



MEASUREMENTS 

Distance from tip of snout to eye (horizontally). 

Distance from lip of snout to mouth (horizon- 
tally) 

Distance from tip of snout to mouth (obliquely). 

Distance from tip of snout to angle of mouth 
(horizontally) 

Distance from tip of snout to angle of mouth 
(obliquely) 

Distance from tip of snout to spiracle (horizon- 
tally) 

■Greatest length of spiracle 

Length of opening of spiracle 

Distance from eye to spiracle 

Distance from angle of mouth to spiracle 

Length of orbit 

Length of eye 

Width of mouth 

Length of upper jaw to angle of mouth 

Length of lower jaw to angle of mouth 

Distance from mouth to nostril 

Distance between nostrils 

Distance between eyes 

Distance between eyes on cartilage 

Distance between spiracles 

First dorsal 

Distance from snout 

Length of base 

Greatest hight 

Second dorsal 

Distance from end of first dorsal 

Distance from snout 

Length of base 

Greatest hight 

Length of posterior margin 

Anal 

Distance from snout 

Length of base 

Greatest hight 

Length of anterior margin 

Length of posterior margin 

■Caudal 

Distance from end of second dorsal 

Distance of tip from end of second dorsal 

Greatest width . 



Millimeters 


Hundredths 
of length 


176 


6 


90 


3 


147 


5 


280 


9.5 


305 


10.3 


. 286 


9.7 


56 


2 


35 




31 




74 




80 


2.7 


68 


2.3 


270 


9 


219 


7.4 


215 


7.3 


30 




125 


4.2 


182 


6.2 


142 


4.8 


226 


7.7 


1000 


34 


670 


22.7 


95 




310 


10.5 


1980 


67 


368 


12.5 


158 


5.4 


55 




2087 


70.7 


250 


8.5 


119 


4 


233 




47 




116 




620 


21 


232 





117 


91 


228 


345 


590 


20 


330 


11.2 


169 


5.7 


240 


8 


L655 


56 


215 


7.3 


108 . 





1- NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Hundredth* 
measurements Millimeters of length 

Length of upper lobe 

Greatest width of upper lobe 

Distance of lower lobe from anal base 

Length of anterior margin of lower lobe 

Length of longest margin of lower lobe 

Pectoral 

Distance from snout 

Greatest length 

Width of base 

Greatest width 

Ventral 

Distance from snout 

Greatest length 

Length of posterior margin (last ray) 

iWidth of base 170 5.7 

Greatest width 222 7.5 

Only two specimens of this shark have been recorded — the 
type described by Capello from the coast of Portugal, and an 
example about 9 feet, 8 inches long which came ashore in ex- 
cellent condition at the Amagansett life-saving station on Long 
Island, Feb. 8, 1883. The latter specimen was forwarded to the 
U. S. National Museum, Washington D. G. 

A figure of the species is published in Oceanic Ichthyology, pi. 5 r 
fig. 17. 

Family galeidae 

Requiem Sharks 

Genus 31USTELUS Cuvier 

Body slender, elongate; mouth small, crescent-shaped, with 
well developed labial folds at the angles, snout rather long and 
depressed; teeth in both jaws very blunt, small, rhombic, many- 
rowed, arranged like pavement; spiracles small, just behind the 
eyes; eye large, oblong; pectorals large; ventrals well de- 
veloped; first dorsal large, not far behind pectorals, somewhat 
larger than second dorsal; anal opposite to and smaller than 
second dorsal; basal lobe of caudal little developed, the tail 
nearly straight; embryo without placental attachment to the 
uterus. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 23 

6 Mustehis canis (Mitchill) 
Dog Shark; Smooth Dogfish 

Squalus canis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 486, 1815. 

Mustelus canis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 355, pi. 64, fig. 209, 1842; 
'Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 251, pi. XXXVII, fig. 2, 2a, 1867; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 20, 1883; Jordan & Eveemann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 29, 1896. 

Body cylindric, elongate, tapering greatly from the dorsal fin 
to the tail; head flattened above, one fourth of total length 
without caudal; snout obtusely pointed, one third as long as the 
head. Hight of body equals one half length of head. Nostrils 
large, semilunar, midway between tip of snout and angle of 
mouth. Eye two fifths as long as the snout. Teeth in about 
10 rows, smooth, flattened, the posterior edges of each tooth 
slightly elevated. Spiracles small, circular, near the lower 
posterior angle of the eye. Gill openings moderate, half length 
of snout, the last two over the base of the pectorals. Hight of 
dorsal fin, measured from middle of its base, slightly greater 
than depth of body. Length of pectoral equal to base of dorsal. 
End of ventral base midway between tip of snout and tip of 
caudal, the length of the fin scarcely one third length of head. 
Caudal fin as long as the head, its lower lobe short, blunt, about 
one third as long as the upper. Color ashen gray above, some- 
times with pale spots, white beneath; outer edges of the dorsals 
and anal with a black margin, specially in young; iris greenish 
yellow. Length 3 feet. 

This is known as the dogshark, smooth dogfish and hound- 
fish. It is extremely common in the north Atlantic and is a 
source of great annoyance to anglers. The shark is not eaten 
but it is used in making fertilizers and oil is prepared from its 
liver. It occurs in Gravesend bay in August, September and 
October. In captivity it is restless and delicate, often coming 
to the surface of the water and struggling as if trying to escape. 
Its food consists of small crustaceans, seaweed, etc. 

Genus galeocerdo Muller & Henle 
Body cylindric, elongate, tapering; mouth crescentic; teeth in 
both jaws large, oblique, coarsely serrate on both margins; 



24 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

outer margin with a deep notch; spiracles present; the last two* 
gill openings over the pectoral base; caudal fin with a pit at the 
root above and below; first dorsal fin above the space between 
pectorals and ventrals. Size large. 

7 Galeocerdo tigrinus Mtiller & Henle 
Tiger Shark; Leopard Shark 

Galeocerdo tigrinus Mitller & Henle, Plagiostomen, 59, pi. 23, 1838; Gun- 
ther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 378, 1870; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 
16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 21, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 32, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. for 1897, 88, 1898. 

The caudal fin forms about one third of the total length and 
exceeds the space between the dorsals; the second dorsal is in 
advance of the anal; upper jaw with a long labial fold; teeth 
ff. Color yellowish gray, whitish beneath,, brown on the 
middle of the back and with numerous brown cross bands and 
spots on the sides; adults nearly uniform brown. Said to reach 
a length of 30 feet. 

Tropical seas, occasionally found in summer northward to> 
Cape Cod and to San Diego. 

Dr H. M. Smith has published the following record of its 
occurrence near Woods Hole Mass. " Present every year in 
variable abundance, and caught in traps in Vineyard sound and 
Buzzards bay. The last species of shark to appear in this 
region, rarely coming before August. It remains until October. 
Usual length, 5 feet." The writer has seen a tiger shark fully 
9 feet long in a trap at Marthas Vineyard. 

Genus prionace Cantor 

Body and head slender; teeth in both jaws strongly serrated 
in adults, broad in the upper jaw, narrow, straight and clavi- 
form in the lower; spiracles absent; first dorsal large, its origin 
midway between axils of pectorals and ventrals; second dorsal 
much smaller than first, usually equal to anal; embryo without 
placental attachment to uterus; size large; inhabiting warm' 
seas. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK ZO 

8 Prionace glauca (Linnaeus) 
Great Blue Shark 

Squalus glaucus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 235, 1758. 

Carcharias (Prionodon) glaucus Muller & Henle, Plagiostomen, 36, pi. II, 

1838. 
Carcliarias glaucus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 364, 1870. 
Carcliarliinus glaucus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 22, 1883. 
Prionace glauca Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus., 33, pi. IV, 

fig. 16; pi. V, fig. 16a, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. for 1897, 88, 1898. 

Snout very long; nostrils rather nearer to the mouth than to 
the tip of snout; a slight groove at the angle of the mouth; teeth 
of the upper jaw oblique, slightly constricted near the base; 
lower teeth narrow, lanceolate, with a broad base in the adult, 
triangular in the young. Pectoral fin long, falciform, extending 
to below the dorsal. Color light bluish gray above, paler below. 

The great blue shark is common in the Mediterranean and is 
found occasionally on our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. 

Dr H. M. Smith records it as a very rare species at Woods 
Hole Mass., only a single individual being certainly known from 
that locality, taken from a trap in July 1877. 

Genus carcharhinus Blainville 

Body rather robust, the head broad and depressed; mouth 
inferior, with the teeth in both jaws strongly serrated in the 
adult, less so or entire in the young; those in the upper jaw 
broad or narrow, those below narrow, straight, and nearly erect. 
No spiracles. First dorsal large, placed not far behind pec- 
torals; pectorals falcate; second dorsal small. Embryos at- 
tached by placenta to the uterus. 

9 Carcharhinus obseurus (Le Sueur) 

Dusky Shark 

Squalus obseurus Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 223, pi. 9, 1818. 
Carcliarias (Prionodon) obseurus Muller & Henle, Plagiostomen, 46, 1841. 
Carcliarias obseurus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 350, pi. 61, fig. 201, 

1»42. (Copy of Le Sueur) ; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. .243, pi. XXXVI, 

fig. 2, 1867; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 366, 1870. 
Carcliarliinus obseurus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U.S. Nat. Mus. 22, 1883; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 35, 1896; Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. for 1897, 88, 1898. 

Head broad, somewhat pointed, flattened above and below; 
snout sharp edged, rounded and wide at the end; eyes large, 



26 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

nearly circular; nostrils oblique, near the tip of the snout; gill- 
openings unequal, the first large, the last small and over the 
origin of the pectoral; the second dorsal smaller than the anal, 
and much produced behind; pectorals very long, narrow, falci- 
form, their outer margin four times the inner. Color dusky 
above, dark clear blue in young, white below. Size large, length 
9 or 10 feet. 

The dusky shark inhabits the middle Atlantic and occurs fre- 
quently on our coast in summer. Abundant in Great Egg 
bay where it is called the " man-eating shark." A specimen 
weighing 150 pounds was reported there July 23, and during the 
same week a larger one weighing 200 pounds was landed. 
Young individuals measuring 21J to 24 inches in length, caught 
with hooks July 29, 1887, still bore the umbilical scar. A young 
example was caught in a pound at Islip L. I. in the summer of 
1898. 

De Kay had no specimen of the dusky shark for examination, 
but depended on Le Sueur for the description and figure pub- 
lished in his Neiv York Fauna. Mitchill has made no reference to 
the species. 

Smith publishes the following on its occurrence at Woods Hole 
Mass. " Very common, but less so than the sand shark. Taken 
in traps and on lines fished from wharves. Comes about June 
1 and remains through a part of November. The largest ob- 
served here are 12 to 14 feet long; the average are 8 or 9 feet, 
and the smallest are 2J feet." Storer says it is not a common 
species in Massachusetts waters; it sometimes floats ashore in 
the night or becomes entangled in the mackerel nets. 

The dusky shark feeds chiefly on menhaden when they are 
schooling. 

10 Carcharhinus milberti (Muller & Henle) 

MilberVs Shark 

Carcharias (Prionodon) milberti Valenciennes in Muller & Henle, Pla- 

giostonien, 38, pi. 19, fig. 3 (teeth), 1842. 
Carcharias caeruleus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 349, pi. 61, fig. 200, 

1842; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 873, 1883. 
Eulcmia milberti Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 262, 1864. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 27 

•CarcliarMniis milberti Jobdan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 37, 

1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. for 1897, 88, 1898. 
Small blue shark Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 487, 1815. 
Lamna candata De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 354, pi. 62, fig. 205, 1842. 

Body stout, its depth one fifth of the length without caudal; 
head two sevenths of total length to caudal base, snout promi- 
nent, pointed, broad, thin, and firm, its length from mouth 
equal to width of mouth; distance between nostrils two thirds 
length of snout; upper teeth very broad, triangular, erect, ser- 
rate on both edges, without notch; lower teeth narrower and 
more finely serrated; gill openings comparatively narrow; first 
dorsal begins close behind origin of pectoral, its hight somewhat 
greater than its base and equals one half interspace between 
dorsals; second dorsal very small, its base one fifth interspace 
between dorsals; caudal moderate, its length contained two and 
two thirds times in length of body, its lower lobe less than one 
half as long as the upper; pectorals rather small, not falcate, 
the length contained three and one half times in total length 
without caudal. 

The young are slate blue on the upper parts, the same color 
but less pronounced on the sides, and the lower parts whitish; 
adults are uniform bluish gray above, lighter on the sides of 
head and body, white beneath, the iris greenish blue. Some 
examples taken at Woods Hole Mass. in 1873, were said to be of 
an intense almost indigo blue. 

The blue shark occurs along our east coast in summer from 
Cape Cod to Florida. Young examples are not uncommon in 
the waters of New York. An example taken at Brenton's reef, 
on the coast of Rhode Island, measured 7 feet, 4 inches and 
weighed 161 pounds. 

Mitchill states that it is often taken by nets in New York 
waters, as it commonly bites off the line when hooked. Indi- 
viduals seen by him were 4 or 5 feet long. De Kay refers to this 
shark a second time under the name long-tailed porbeagle, of 
which he saw several young from New York harbor and an adult 
from Brenton's reef, on the coast of Rhode Island, 



28 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

This shark was reported at Woods Hole Mass., in 1871 by Prof. 
Baird. Dr Smith records four examples, each about 4 feet long, 
from a trap near Woods Hole, Aug. 8, 1873, since which time 
none have been observed. 

The species feeds chiefly on fish. 

Genus aprionodon Gill 
Snout conical, more or less produced; teeth not serrated, nar- 
row, on a broad base, erect in both jaws or sometimes slightly 
oblique in the upper; dorsal over the interspace between pec- 
torals and ventrals. 

11 Aprionodon isodon (Val. in Mtiller & Henle) 
Tiburon 

Carcliarias isodon Valenciennes in Mullee & Henle, Plagiostoineu, 32> 

1841. 
Carcliarias (Aprionodon) isodon Dtjmeeil, Elasmobranches, 349, 1870. 
Aprionodon punctatus Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 24, 1883. 
Carcliarias punctatus Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 361, 1870. 
Aprionodon isodon Poey, Enum. Pise. Cubens. 200, 1875; Joedan & Evee- 

mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 42, 1896. 

Snout short, compressed, and rounded; nostril one third of 
the distance from tip of snout to angle of mouth, nearly as 
large as the eye; the distance between the nostrils equals that 
from tip of snout to mouth; teeth in upper jaw small, on a broad 
base, without serrations, those of lower jaw similar but smaller*, 
a small median tooth as usual; number of teeth f r ; first dorsal 
much higher and longer than the second and is separated from 
the last gill opening by a space equal to two thirds the length 
of its base; pectorals reach to below end of first dorsal; caudal 
pit very apparent, specially below; scales rounded posteriorly, 
with five keels; color above dark gray (greenish brown, Duineril), 
whitish below. 

The species is recorded from New York, Virginia, and Cuba. 
The type specimen in the Mus6e d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, is O. 
65m = 25f inches long. The following measurements from the 
type are given by Mtiller and Henle. 



Inches 


Lines 




10 




10 


10 


6 


2 


6 


1 




1 




1 


9 


7 





FISHES OF NEW YORK 29*' 



From tip of snout to nostril 

From nostril to mouth 

From mouth to anus 

From anus to anal fin 

Base of anal fin 

Hight of anal fin 

From anal fin to caudal 

Length of caudal fin 

Distance from pectoral to ventral 4 6 

Base of first dorsal fin 2 3 

Hight of first dorsal fin 2 5 

Base of second dorsal fin 1 

Hight of second dorsal fin 7 

Length of pectoral fin 3 4 

Width of pectoral fin ? k 2 4 

Distance between nostrils . . . 1 1 6 

Width of mouth 2 

Genus scoliodon Mtiller & Henle 

Body slender; snout depressed; no spiracles; teeth entire or 
little serrated, oblique and flat, the points directed sidewise so 
that the inner margins are more or less nearly horizontal, the 
teeth in front more nearly erect; teeth not swollen at the base, 
each of them with a deep notch on the outer margin below the 
sharp point; labial folds conspicuous; first dorsal over the inter- 
space between pectorals and ventrals; second dorsal very small; 
ventrals small; size small. 

12 Scoliodon terrae novae (Richardson) 
Sharp-nosed Shark 

Squalus (Carcharias) terrae-novae Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. 289, 1836. 
Carcliarias terrae-novae Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 360, 1870. 
Carcharias {Scoliodon) terrae-novae Gill, Cat. Fish. East Coast N. A. 59, 

1861. 
Squalus punctatus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 483, 1815. 
Scoliodon terrae-novae Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 24,. 

1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 43, 1896. 

Snout moderately rounded; mouth U-shaped, with a short 
labial groove at its angle extending on both jaws; distance from 
tip of snout to nostril less than distance between nostrils; gill 
openings narrow; first dorsal moderate, midway between pec- 



oO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

torals and ventrals; second dorsal very small, slightly behind, 
and rather smaller than anal; anal fin much shorter than dis- 
tance from anal to ventrals; pectorals rather large, reaching 
about to middle of first dorsal; ventrals small. 

Color gray; caudal fin with a narrow blackish edge. Cape 
Cod to Brazil, very common on the southern Atlantic coast. 

The green-backed shark, Squalus punctatus, of Mitchill is said 
to belong to this species. His example was 31 inches long, but 
he was incorrectly informed that the shark reaches two or three 
times that size. Mitchill wrote: 

" When this shark is in the water his back and sides appear 
greenish. But soon after his exposure to air, and immediately 
after his death, the hue becomes a pale ash, leaden, or dove, with 
but trifling variegations. The parts about the mouth, neck, 
and belly are of a clear white. The upper side of the pectoral 
fins resembles the color of the back; the lower partakes of the 
complexion of the belly. The openings of the excretory ducts 
on the snout and lips are blackish. 

" The shark is very common on the coast of our southern 
states; it reaches the length of 3 feet." 

Family sphyrnidae 

Hammerheaded Sharks 

Genus sphyrna Rafinesque 

Head laterally extended, hammer-shaped or kidney-shaped, 
the eyes on the ends of the " hammer " and the nostrils anterior; 
mouth inferior, crescentic; teeth in the jaws similar, oblique, 
notched on the outside near the base; no spiracles; last gill- 
opening over the pectoral; first dorsal large, nearer pectorals 
than ventrals; second dorsal and anal small; pectorals large; a 
pit at the root of the caudal; caudal fin notched near its tip, its 
lower lobe developed. 

13 Sphyrna tiburo (Linnaeus) 

Shovelhead Shark; Bonnethead 

Squalus tiburo Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 234, 1758. 

Zygaena tiburo Guntheb, Cat. Fish. Brit Mus. VIII, 382, 1870. 

Reniceps tiburo Gill, Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist. VIII, 412, 1861; Joedan 

& Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 25, 1883. 
Sphyrna tiburo Joedan & Evebmann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 44, pi. V, 

fig. 19, 1896. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 31 

Body slender and little compressed; head flat, semicircular in 
front, posterior margins of " hammer " short, free, the lateral 
margins continuous with the anterior; first dorsal high, midway 
between pectorals and ventrals; second dorsal much smaller, 
produced behind, higher and shorter than anal; ventral and 
caudal fins moderate; pectorals large; mouth small; teeth 
small, very oblique, deeply notched on the outer margin. Head 
one sixth of total length to tip of caudal, slightly longer than 
wide. 

Color uniform ashy, whitish beneath. Length 5 feet. At- 
lantic and Pacific oceans, occurring on our coast from Long 
Island southward. 

Neither Mitchill nor De Kay mentions the shovelhead shark, 
though both record the hammerhead. Prof. Baird found it a 
common fish in Great Egg bay in 1854, but the species was not 
seen there by the writer in 1887. 

14 Sphyrna zygaena (Linnaeus) 
Hammerhead Shark 

Squalus zygaena Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 234, 1758; Mitchill, Trans, 

Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 482, 1815. 
Zygaena malleus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 362, pi. 64, fig. 204, 1842; 

Storee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 262, pi. XXXVIII, fig. 3, 1867. 
8pl\yrna zygaena Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 26, 1883; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 45, 1896; Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. XVII, 88, 1898. 

Body elongate, cylindric; head hammer-shaped, its width two 
or three times its length; nostril near eye, prolonged into a 
groove which runs along nearly the entire front margin of the 
head; eye large, placed near the angle formed by the anterior 
and lateral margins of the " hammer ", enabling the animal to 
look above and beneath; three rows of white,, hyaline teeth in 
each jaw, those in upper jaw entire, acute, triangular, their tips 
directed outward from the center, with a shoulder on the outer 
side; in the center a few with shoulders on both sides; gill open- 
ings short and small, the last smallest and placed over the pec- 
toral base; first dorsal large, quadrilateral, slightly behind pec- 
torals, higher than wide, deeply concave behind, and pointed 



'32 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

posteriorly ; second dorsal rhomboidal, very small, produced pos- 
teriorly, its base extending farther backward than the anal base; 
pectorals placed low, subtriangular, broad, slightly concave be- 
hind; ventrals small, broad, nearly midway between the dorsal 
fins, produced behind; anal similar to second dorsal but some- 
what larger, more concave behind; caudal equal in length to 
width of head, its lower lobe short, the upper ending in a small 
triangular portion; color uniform dusky gray, paler beneath. 

The hammerhead shark reaches a length of 15 feet; it is a 
voracious species, found in all warm seas. Mitchill records the 
capture of three individuals in a net at Sag Harbor, in Septem- 
ber 1805, the largest measuring 11 feet; and on opening its belly 
many detached parts of a man, together with his clothing, were 
found in it. He had a specimen from the bay of New York. 
De Kay had a specimen 25 inches long which was taken in a 
seine in New York harbor and he saw examples 4 feet long in 
Hell Gate. Dr Smith publishes the following about its occur- 
rence at Woods Hole: 

Usually common; some years abundant. Taken in traps from 
July to October, being most numerous in July and August. 
Generally swims with its dorsal and caudal fins out of the water. 
The largest ones taken here are 7 or 8 feet long; the smallest are 
under l-§ feet; and the average are 4 feet. The name "rake- 
lead " is an old local designation of this species. 

In Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., small examples, measuring 
about 2 feet or less, are occasionally caught with hooks in Au- 
gust and larger ones, 5 or 6 feet long, have been seen. It is called 
■" shovelno'Se shark " there. This shark is not common in Graves- 
end bay, but is sometimes found in August and September. 

Family alopiidae 
Thresher Sharks 
Genus alopias Rafinesque 
Body fusiform, moderately elongate, the snout short and 
blunt; mouth horseshoe-shaped; teeth distant, flat, triangular, 
entire, the third tooth of upper jaw on each side much the small- 
est; gill openings moderate, the last smallest and placed just 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 66 

anterior to or slightly over the pectoral base; no nictitating 
membrane; spiracles minute, just behind the eye, or absent, first 
dorsal high, triangular, midway between pectorals and ventrals ; 
second dorsal and anal very small; pectorals long and wide, 
deeply concave behind; ventrals wider than high, below the 
interspace between the dorsals; caudal without keel, exceed- 
ingly long and narrow, its lower lobe moderate, its upper lobe 
with a deep pit at its root and a notch near its tip; size large; 
a single species inhabiting most warm seas, and easily known by 

its long tail. ■ 

15 Alopias vulpes (Gmelin) 

Thresher Shark; Sioingle-tail Shark 

■Squalus vulpes Gmelin, L. Syst. Nat. 1, 1496, 1788 (fide Gunther) ; Mitchill, 

Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 482, 1815. 
Varcharias vulpes De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 348, pi. LXI, fig. 199, 1842; 

Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 245, pi. XXXVI, fig. 3, 1867. 
Alopecias vulpes Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 393, 1870. 
Alopias vulpes Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 27, 1883; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 45, pi. VI, fig. 20, 

1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 89, 1898. 

Body fusiform, moderately elongate, its greatest hight one 
fourth of the length to the pit at the root of the caudal; head 
two sevenths of the same length; eye one ninth as long as head; 
no nictitating membrane; snout short, twice as long as the eye, 
Plat, triangular teeth of moderate size, with entire edges, in 
Doth jaws, the third tooth of the upper jaw on each side much 
smaller than the others; spiracles just behind the eyes, minute 
or wanting; gill openings moderate, the last one over the base 
of the pectoral; first dorsal large, midway between pectorals 
and ventrals; second dorsal and anal very small; caudal elon- 
gate, slender, forming about one half of the total length; a pit 
at its base, upper, lobe notched near the tip, lower lobe 
moderate; no caudal keel; ventrals one half as long as the pec- 
torals; pectorals falcate, reaching to below the middle of the 
;first dorsal. 

The thresher shark is abundant in the Mediterranean and 
warm parts of the Atlantic and Pacific, occasionally seen off 
the south shore of Long Island in summer and frequently taken 
in Vineyard sound. It reaches a length of 20 feet. 



34 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Mitchill described, in the Medical Repository, 8 :77, an individual 
measuring 13 feet and 1 inch, which was found, in 1803, on the 
south side of Long Island. De Kay describes the species but 
without mentioning any locality of its capture. His figure was 
based on a female specimen, about 13 feet long, in the American 
museum. 

At Woods Hole Mass. the thresher comes in April and remains 
till late in the fall. It is common in Vineyard sound and is 
found also in Buzzards bay. In the fall the boat fishermen, fish- 
ing for cod at Gay Head, catch them with lines baited with 
fresh -herring. Individuals 20 feet long have been caught at 
Menemsha. 

The shark feeds on mackerel, menhaden, herring and other 
small fishes. 

Family carcharidae 

Sand Sharks 

Genus carcharias Bafinesque 

Body moderately elongate; the snout pointed; mouth large, 
crescentic; teeth long, narrow, awl-shaped, not serrated, most of 
them with one or two small basal cusps; spiracles minute, pore- 
like; no nictitating membrane; gill openings in advance of the 
pectorals, moderately large; dorsal fins nearly equal, not large, 
the first well behind the pectorals; caudal well developed, with- 
out keel, its basal lobe short, a notch near its tip; pectorals 
short, not reaching to beginning of dorsal; size moderate. 

16 Carcharias littoralis (Mitchill) 
Sand Shark 

Squalus littoralis Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 328, 1818; Le Sueur, 

Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 224. 
Carcharias littoralis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 351, 1842; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 46, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

XVII, 89, 1898. 
Eugomphodus' littoralis Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 260, 1864. 
Odontaspis americanus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 392, 1870. 
Carcharias americanus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 27, 

1883. 

Body moderately elongate, its greatest hight contained five 
to six and one half times in the total length; head moderately- 






FISHES OF NEW YORK 35 

pointed, its length nearly one fourth of the total in half grown 
individuals; eye small, longer than deep, its length one fifth that 
of the snout, which is nearly one fourth as long as the head. 
The spiracle is located behind the eye at a distance equal to 
three times the diameter of the eye. Two rows of teeth in func- 
tion in upper jaw and three rows in lower; longest tooth of the 
lower jaw as long as the eye, slightly longer than the longest 
tooth of the upper jaw; teeth long, awl-shaped, mostly with one 
or two small cusps at the base, the first and fourth of upper 
jaw and the first of lower jaw without cusps. Space occupied 
by gill openings equals one fourth of the length of the head; 
the depth of the gill openings equals four times the length of 
the eye. The distance from the snout to the nostril equals the 
distance between the nostrils. The width of the mouth, includ- 
ing the labial folds, equals two fifths of the length of the head. 
The first dorsal base is entirely within the first half of the total 
length; it is about one third as long as the head, and somewhat 
exceeds the hight of the fin. The pectoral is one half as long as 
the head and, when extended, does not quite reach the vertical 
through the dorsal origin. The ventral origin is slightly behind 
the end of the first dorsal base; the length of the fin is nearly 
one third of that of the head. The caudal, measured from the 
pit at its root, forms two sevenths of the total length. 

This small but voracious shark is common on our Atlantic 
coast, specially from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras. It preys on 
the smaller fishes. The last individual observed by me in Great 
South bay during the summer of 1898 was swimming close to 
the surface near the inlet at Fire Island, September 16. 

Mitchill described this shark under the name of the ground 
shark (S q u a 1 u s littoralis) in the American Monthly 
Magazine for March 1818, p. 328. His specimen was caught in a 
set net near New York city, and measured about 5 feet. He 
mentions a larger individual, 8 feet 9 inches long, which weighed 
upward of 150 pounds. The fishermen called the fish ground 
shark because it is usually found along shores, or within 
soundings. 



36 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

According to Dr Smith this is the commonest shark of the 
Woods Hole region; it is found in Vineyard sound from June to 
November. The largest are 12 feet long. Fish, crabs and other 
animals are found in its stomach. 

Some of the teeth of a large individual were secured from 
A. P. Latto at Southampton in July. Instead of a single basal 
cusp, as usual, certain teeth had two such cusps on each side. 
The last sand shark seen by me during the summer of 1898, in 
Great South bay, was observed September 16 near the inlet at 
Fire island, swimming slowly westward near the surface. A 
list of specimens follows. 

(Teeth) Southampton, Atlantic ocean July 

$ Clam Pond cove, Great South bay Sep. 6 
$ Clam Pond cove, Great South bay Sep. 6 

A young male received from Gravesend bay June 26, 1895, 
lived in captivity till Dec. 19, 1895, when the temperature of the 
water in its pool was 53° F. The following notes were made 
from the recently dead specimen: 

Color, bronze gray with light brown blotches, the largest 
about as long as the eye; belly and other lower parts white; eye 
yellowish; tips of pectorals, ventrals, dorsals, anal and caudal 
above and below with a narrow black streak; numerous minute 
dark specks on the under surface of snout and suborbital 
region, extending back to angle of mouth. 

Two rows of teeth in function above and three below. Length 
of longest tooth in lower jaw, one half inch; in upper jaw, three 
eighths inch. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Feet Inches 

Length 3 6 

Depth of body 6% 

Least depth of caudal peduncle 1% 

Tip of snout to perpendicular through last gillopening .... 10 

From first to last gill opening 2% 

Depth of gill openings 2 

Snout 2Y 2 

Eye to spiracle V-/-2 

Eye y 2 long % deep 

Snout to nostril . , , .,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I 1 /* 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



37 



MEASUREMENTS' 

Feet 

Width of nostril 

Distance between nostrils .' 

Nostril to front of mouth 

Length of mouth opening 

Width of mouth, including labial folds 

Length of labial fold 

Labial fold to first gill opening 

Snout to first dorsal 

First dorsal base 

Middle of dorsal base to top of fin 

Length of posterior margin of dorsal 

From first to second dorsal 

Length of second dorsal base 

Middle of second dorsal base to top of fin 

Posterior margin of second dorsal 

Second dorsal to caudal pit 

Caudal from pit 

Lower caudal lobe 

Terminal caudal lobe 

Snout to pectoral, obliquely 

Length of pectoral . 

Lower margin of pectoral 

Extended pectoral not quite reaching to perpendicular 

through front of dorsal. 

Ventral origin slightly behind end of first dorsal base 

Length of ventral .- 

Inner margin of ventral 

Vent to tip of clasper 

End of ventral base to origin of anal 

Anal base 

Hind margin of anal 

Depth of anal 

Anal base to origin of lower caudal lobe 



Inches 

% 

VA 

y 2 

2% 
4 
1 

3% 
16 

3y 2 

3 

m 

5 

2% 
2y 2 
1% 
3 

12 
9% 
3 

io% 

5 



3y 8 
i% 
iy 2 

3% 
3 
1 
2 

1% 



Family lamnidae 
Mackerel Sharks 

Genus isurus Rafinesque 
Body fusiform, stout; mouth wide, with long, sharp edged, 
lanceolate, entire teeth having no basal cusps; spiracles minute 
or absent; gill openings wide, all in advance of pectorals, lateral, 
not extending under the throat; first dorsal large, not far be- 
hind origin of pectoral; second dorsal and anal yery small \ petK 



38 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

torals large; ventrals moderate; tail slender; a pit at the root 
of the caudal; the caudal peduncle strongly keeled on each side; 
caudal fin lunate, its two lobes nearly equal. Size large. 

17 Isurus dekayi (Gill) 
Mackerel Shark 

Lamna punctata De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 352, pi. 63, figs. 206, 
207, 1842 (not Squahis punctatus Mitchill); Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 
249, pi. XXXVII, fig. 1, 1867. (This is probably Lamna cornubica). 

Isttropsis dekayi Gill, Ann. N. Y. Lye. Nat. Hist. 153, 1861. 

Isurus dekayi Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. .874, 1883; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 48, pi. VI, fig. 21, 1898. 

Body fusiform, cylindric, its greatest depth equaling one fifth 
of the total length, and slightly exceeding the length of, the 
head. The caudal lobes are nearly equal in length, the upper 
about equal to depth of body. Gill openings wide, the last 
over the anterior edge of the pectoral base; middle teeth very 
long, much longer and narrower than the crowded, triangular 
lateral teeth; first dorsal inserted behind pectorals at a distance 
equal to one fourth of length of head; falcate, its base equal to 
one third of its distance from tip of snout, its hight nearly one 
eighth of the total length; pectoral falcate, more than one fifth 
of total length, and longer than upper caudal lobe; anal and 
second dorsal small; caudal keel nearly one fifth of total length; 
deep pits at the root of the caudal above and below. 

Color dark slate, lighter beneath. De Kay was informed that 
it is of a deep bottle green in life and the tongue is mottled with 
black. Storer states that all the upper part of the body is 
greenish, which becomes of a slate color 'after death; pupils 
black; iris dusky. 

The mackerel shark reaches the length of 10 feet. It occurs 
from Cape Cod to the West Indies; but is rarely captured in 
most localities. 

Dje Kay described a specimen 10 feet 2 inches long, taken in 
New York harbor, October 1840. A somewhat smaller example 
was caught near the light-ship off Sandy Hook by Capt. C. II. 
Barnard 16 years earlier than the date of De Kay's description. 
Storer refers to it as the most common species of shark found in 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 39 

Massachusetts, which is not the case at present. In 1845 about 
150 at least were captured in nets at Monhegan Me. during three 
weeks of mackerel fishing. 

The fish was valued for its oil, of which 11J gallons have been 
taken from a single liver. 

This species feeds on many kinds of fish, but persistently fol- 
lows the mackerel schools, and is generally known as the 
mackerel shark. At Provincetown it is called the blue shark. 

Genus lamna Cuvier 

Body short, stout, the back considerably elevated; snout 
prominent, pointed; teeth entire, pointed, triangular, with a 
small basal cusp on each side, one or both cusps sometimes 
wanting on some teeth in the young; gill openings wide, and all 
of them in advance of the pectoral fin; first dorsal falcate, in- 
serted over the axil of the pectoral; second dorsal and anal very 
small, nearly opposite each other; pectorals falcate; caudal 
peduncle strongly keeled on each side; deep pits at the root of 
the caudal above and below; caudal lobes nearly equal in length. 
Size large. 

18 Lamna cornubica (Gmelin) 

Porbeagle 

SquaZns cornubicus Gmelin, L. Syst. Nat. I, 1497, 1788. 

Lamna cornubica Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 389, 1870; Jordan 

& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S, Nat. Mus, 30, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

IX, 198, pi. LVII, 1891; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

49, pi. VI, fig. 22, 1896. 

Body short, stout, fusiform, its greatest depth equaling nearly 
one fifth of the total length including caudal, and slightly less 
than the length of the head. The caudal lobes are nearly equal 
in length, the upper as long as the head and exceeding depth of 
body; caudal peduncle strongly keeled on each side; deep pits 
at the root of the caudal above and below. The snout is conical, 
pointed, its length somewhat more than the width of the mouth. 
Teeth entire, triangular, pointed, with a basal cusp on each side, 
the cusp sometimes wanting in young, yf or to on each side in 
an individual about 3^ feet long, the third tooth of the upper 



40 KBW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

jaw on each side small; gill openings wide and all of them in 
advance of the pectoral base; first dorsal falcate, inserted over 
the axil of the pectoral; second dorsal and anal very small, 
nearly opposite each other; pectoral falcate, its length nearly 
equal to greatest depth of body and equals distance from angle 
of mouth to last gill opening. 

Color dark slate, whitish beneath. Found in the Atlantic 
and Pacific, north to Massachusetts bay and the Gulf of Alaska; 
called salmon shark at Kadiak. Eeaches a length of 10 feet. 

The porbeagle, salmon shark, or mackerel shark is a very 
powerful and destructive species, and it has a wide distribution. 
If the figure of Lamna punctata Storer be correct, his 
mackerel shark| must be Lamna cornubica and not 
Isurus dekayi. The advanced position of the first dorsal 
seems to indicate this. 

Genus carcharodon Smith 

Agrees with Isurus and Lamna except in dentition; 
teeth large, flat, erect, triangular, serrate; first dorsal moderate, 
nearly midway between pectorals and ventrals; second dorsal 
and anal very small; pectorals large; ventrals moderate; caudal 
peduncle stout; caudal lobes large and strong; deep pits at the 
base of the caudal fin above and below. 

19 Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus) 
Great White Shark; Man-eater 

Squalus carcharias Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 235, 1758. 

Carcharias atwoodi Storer, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. Ill, 72, 1848; Hist. 

Fish. Mass. 246, pi. XXXVI, fig. 4, 1867. 
Carcharodon carcharias Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 875, 

1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 50, 1896. 

Body stout, its greatest depth contained about five or five and 
one half times in the total length, and equaling about three 
fourths of the length of the head; eye perpendicularly oblong, 
and about one third as long as the snout; caudal lobes large and 
strong, nearly equal in length, the upper about six sevenths of 
depth of body; caudal peduncle stout, strongly keeled, its least 
depth two thirds of snout, deep pits at the base of the caudal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 41 

fin above and below; the snout obtusely pointed, about one fifth 
to one sixth of length of head; mouth very large; both jaws 
with large, triangular, serrated teeth in five rows, those in the 
lower jaw narrower, about 24 in each row above and 22 below; 
spiracles minute or wanting; gill openings wide and all in 
advance of the pectoral fin; first dorsal moderately large, in- 
serted nearly midway between pectoral and ventral bases; 
second dorsal and anal very small, subequal, their bases scarcely 
more than one half as long as the snout; pectoral large, reach- 
ing to below the end of the dorsal when extended, ventral 
moderate, its length equal to nearly one fourth of that of the 
head. Color leaden gray, lower parts white; tips and edges of 
pectoral black. This shark reaches a length of 30 feet and a 
weight of nearly 2 tons. It is found in the temperate and tropi- 
cal parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, but is rare in New 
York waters. 

The ferocity of the man-eater shark may be inferred from the 
following account of a specimen 13 feet long taken at Province- 
town Mass. and brought to Boston for exhibition. 

My specimen was captured at Provincetown June 16 . . . 
When first seen it was swimming in about 10 feet of water on 
the Long point side of Provincetown harbor. A boat's crew 
having given chase, a harpoon was thrown into it, when it in- 
stantly turned toward the boat and seized it with great ferocity 
near the bows, in which act several of its teeth were broken 
off. It was eventually killed by being frequently lanced. 

Jordan and Evermann record an individual about 30 feet long, 
caught near Soquel Cal. which had in its stomach a young sea 
lion weighing about 100 pounds. 

Family cetorhinidae 

Bashing Sharks 

Genus cetorhinus Blainville 

Body stout, the skin much wrinkled and beset with small 
spines; snout blunt; head small; mouth moderate, with numer- 
ous small, conical teeth without cusps or serrations; spiracles 
minute, above the corners of the mouth; gill openings very wide 



42 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

extending from the back almost around the throat, all of them 
in advance of the pectorals; first dorsal large, midway between 
pectorals and ventrals; second dorsal and anal small; caudal fin 
lunate, the upper lobe considerably the larger; caudal peduncle 
keeled; pectorals and ventrals large. Brain very small. Size 
very large. 

20 Cetorhinus maximus (Gunner) 

Basking Shark; Elephant Shark 

Squalus maximus Gunner, Trondhj. Selsk. Skrift, III, 33, tab. 2; IV, 14, 

tab. 3, 1765; Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 486, 1815. 
Selachus maximus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, p. 357, pi. 63, fig. 208 

(partly copied from Le Sueur), 1842; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 253, 

pi. XXXVII, fig. 3, 1867. 
Cetorhinus maximus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 31, 1883; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 51, pi. VII, fig. 23, 

1896. 

Body very stout, the skin wrinkled, rough, beset with small 
spines, its greatest depth contained about five times in the total 
length, and equaling about three fourths of the length of the 
head; caudal fin lunate, the upper lobe the larger, about equal 
to the depth of body; caudal peduncle keeled; snout smooth, 
blunt, nearly half the length of head; mouth moderate; the teeth 
very small and numerous, conical, without cusps or serratures, 
each jaw with six or seven rows, about 200 in each row; spiracles 
minute, above the corners of the mouth; eye very small, with- 
out nictitating membrane; gill openings very wide, extending 
from the back almost around the throat, all of them in front 
of the pectorals; gill-rakers slender, long and close set, resemb- 
ling whalebone, whence the name, bone shark; first dorsal large, 
triangular, midway between pectorals and ventrals; second 
dorsal small, but larger than the anal; pectoral large, reaching 
a little past the dorsal origin when extended; ventral large, its 
length nearly one third the length of the head. Color dark 
slate or leaden above, lighter beneath. 

The basking shark reaches a length of nearly 40 feet and is 
the largest of the sharks. It is an inhabitant of Arctic seas, 
coming southward as far as Portugal, Virginia and California. 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 43 

Mitchill refers to its capture at Provincetown Mass. and to 
its name of bone shark because of the peculiar structure of its 
gills. De Kay mentions the specimen which was captured in 
the lower harbor of New York in 1822, from which he made 
some alterations in a drawing partly copied from Le Sueur's 
sketch of the same fish. Storer described an individual measur- 
ing 33 feet 3 inches. He says it is rarely observed on the coast 
of Massachusetts. It becomes gregarious only in the breeding 
season. 

The oil made from the liver of the basking shark was at one 
time considered valuable. 

Order cyglospondyli 

Suborder CYCLOSPONDYLI 

Family squalidae 

Bog fishes 

Genus squalus (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body slender, elongate; mouth slightly arched, with a long, 
straight, deep, oblique groove on each side, without labial folds; 
teeth small, simple, equal in both jaws, their points turned aside 
so that the inner margins form a cutting edge; spiracles well 
developed, near the eye; gill openings moderate, all in advance 
of pectorals; first dorsal larger than the second, far in front of 
the ventrals, which are behind the middle of the body; second 
dorsal behind ventrals; dorsal spines strong, not grooved; 
caudal fin with unequal lobes, the upper elongate, broad, sub- 
truncate at the end, the lower short and rounded; pectorals 
large and long, placed low down; ventrals midway between end 
of first and beginning of second dorsal. No anal fin. 

21 Squalus acanthias Linnaeus 
Spined Dogfish 

Squalus acanthias Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 233, 1758; Jordan & Gil- 
bert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 16, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 
47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 54, 1896. 

Spina® acanthias De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 359, pi. 64, fig. 210, 1842. 

Acanthias americanus Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 256, pi. XXXYIII, fig. 1, 
la, 1867. 

Acanthias vulgaris Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 418, 1870. 



44 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Body slender, moderately long, its greatest depth about one 
eighth of the total length, and about three fourths of the 
length of the head; caudal fin scarcely bent upward, its length 
nearly one fifth of the total length; snout pointed, its length 
equaling about one fourth of the length of the head; mouth 
slightly arched, with a long, straight, deep, oblique groove on 
each side, without labial folds. Teeth small, equal in both 
jaws, their points turned aside so that the inner margins form 
a cutting edge; spiracles well developed, just behind the eye; 
eye large, oblong, its diameter two thirds of the length of the 
snout; no nictitating membrane; gill openings narrow slits, in 
front of the pectorals; first dorsal moderate, larger than the 
second, far in advance of the postmedian ventrals, which are 
in front of the small second dorsal; pectoral when extended 
reaches to below the first dorsal spine, its length contained 
about seven times in the total, including caudal fin; ventral one 
fourth as long as the head. 

Color dark slate or gray on upper parts, whitish below, numer- 
ous white spots on the back, becoming faint or obsolete with 
age. The spined dogfish reaches a length of 3J feet and the 
weight of 20 pounds. It inhabits both coasts of the Atlantic 
and is recorded also from Cuba. It is found in Gravesend bay, 
Long Island, only in October, and young examples have been 
taken at Southampton in the same month. The species is 
common in summer and fall on the fishing banks off the New 
Jersey coast. It is not hardy in captivity. 

At Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, it is less abun- 
dant than formerly, and was comparatively scarce in 1897. When 
the fish fertilizer factory was established at Woods Hole, this 
was the principal fish utilized in the manufacture of oil and 
guano; later, the scarcity or irregularity of the supply necessi- 
tated the use of menhaden. 

When the horned dogfish first comes, in May, it feeds largely 
on ctenophores. 

In Massachusetts bay the species arrives in June and remains 
only a few days, but returns again in September and stays till 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 45 

the middle of November. These fish are usually caught with 
the hook and often entangle themselves in nets, to which they 
do great damage. They feed on mackerel, whiting and other 
fishes. 

The oil of the liver is an article of commerce, the flesh is use- 
ful for fertilizers, and the skin has been used for polishing; on 
some parts of Cape Cod the fish has been dried for fuel. 

Mitchill mentions the spined dogfish only in one of his minor 
papers. I)e Kay recorded it as common on the New York coast. 
He found remains of the soft clam and scales of fishes in its 
stomach. 

Suborder TECTOSPONDYLI 

Family squatinidae 

Angel Sharks 
Genus squatina Dumeril 
Body flat, depressed as in the rays, the snout obtuse or 
slightly concave in front; nostrils on the front margin of the 
snout with skinny flaps; mouth anterior; teeth in many series, 
conical, pointed, distant; spiracles wide, transverse, behind the 
eyes; gill openings wide, very near each other, partly inferior 
and partly hidden by the pectoral fins; two small, subequal 
dorsal fins on the tail behind the ventrals; no anal fin; caudal 
small, the lower lobe longer than the upper; males with small 
prehensile organs; vertebrae tectospondylous. 

22 Squatina squatina (Linnaeus) 
Angel fish; Morikfish 

Squalus squatina Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 233, 1758. 
Squatina dumerili De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 363, pi. 62, fig. 203, 1842. 
Rhina squatina Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 430, 1870. 
Squatina angelus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 35, 1883. 
Squatina squatina Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 58; 
Smith, Bull. TJ. S. F*. C. XVII, 89, 1898. 

Body raylike in shape, flat, depressed, its greatest depth less 

than one fourteenth of the total length and about one third of 

the length of the head; caudal peduncle stout; caudal fin small, 

its lower lobe the longer; snout short, rounded; nostrils on its 

front margin, with skinny flaps. Mouth anterior, its width 



46 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

about equal to the interorbital width; teeth acute, small, con- 
ical, distant; spiracles large, crescentic, behind the eyes; eye 
small, its diameter one fourth of the distance between the eyes; 
gill openings wide, subinferior, partly covered by the pectoral 
fin; two small dorsal fins, close together, behind the ventrals; 
anal fin wanting; pectoral fins very large, widely expanded, 
deeply notched at the base; ventrals very large, their length 
greater than that of the head; skin covered with stiff prickles, 
largest on the median line of the back. 

Color bluish ashy gray or brown above, sometimes blotched 
and speckled, pale below. The monkfish reaches a length of 
4 feet. It is easily recognized by its peculiar shape. It in- 
habits the Mediterranean and the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of 
the United States from Cape Cod and San Francisco south- 
ward. It is not common in New York waters, but it appears 
occasionally in Gravesend bay in summer and is believed to 
occur in this state only in bays adjacent to the Atlantic. 

Mitchill, apparently, was not familiar with the species. De 
Kay knew the fish only from Le Sueur's descriptions and the 
writings of other ichthyologists. He gives the common names 
employed in Europe; monk, monkeyfish, kingston, shark ray, 
and fiddlefish. A New York fisherman informed De Kay that 
it was known to him as the little bullhead shark. 

A specimen weighing 35 or 40 pounds and measuring about 4 
feet was taken in a trap at Menemsha bight, Marthas Vine- 
yard, Sep. 1, 1873. The writer saw one taken at the same place 

a few years later. 

Order batoidei 

Rays 

Suborder SARGURA 

Family rajidae 

Slcates 

Genus raja (Artedi) Linnaeus 

In the rays the disk is broad, rhombic; the pectorals extend 

to, but not around the snout; the ventrals are large and deeply 

notched; the tail is usually long, without serrated spine, slender, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 47 

rounded, or depressed, with caudal fin small or absent, with two 
small dorsal fins, close together, near its tip, and with a dermal 
fold on each side. The skin is more or less covered with prickles 
and spines, males having rows of erectile hooks near the outer 
angles of the pectorals. No electric organs. Eggs laid in 
leathery, four-angled cases, having two long tubular tendrils at 
each end. Teeth in the middle of the jaws, sMrp in males, blunt 
in females. 

23 Raja erinacea Mit chill 

Common Skate; Prickly Skate; Hedgehog Ray 

Raja erinaceus Mitchell, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, IX, 290, pi. 6 (male), 1825; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 372, pi. 78, fig. 246, 1842. 
Raja eglanteria Guxther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 462, 1870. 
Rata erinacea Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 40, 1883. 
Raja erinacea Jordax & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 68, pi. IX, fig. 

29, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 89, 1898. 

Disk rhomboid, with the angles rounded; its length nearly 
equal to its width; spines largest on the anterior extensions of 
the pectorals, where they are close set, strong, laterally com- 
pressed and hooked backward; smaller spines scattered over the 
head, above the spiracles, above and in front of the eyes, on the 
back, the median line of which is comparatively smooth, without 
enlarged spines except in the young; a triangular patch of spines 
on the shoulder girdle; inner posterior angles of the pectorals 
nearly smooth. Males have two rows of large, erectile hooks, 
pointing backward, near the outer angles of the pectorals. 
Females have groups of small scales on each side of the vent. 
Tail about as long as the disk; a dermal fold on each side; dorsal 
fins rough, connected at the base; mouth small; jaws curved, 
with small teeth in about 50 rows above and 48 below, the mid- 
dle ones sl\arp in males, all blunt in females. Color light 
brown, with small round spots of dark brown. Length 1 to 2 
feet. (After Garman) 

A very common species on our coast, from Maine to Virginia. 
It is one of the small rays and is not much valued for food. 
Eggs of this skate have been obtained in Gravesend bay in 
March. In captivity eggs have been deposited in winter. The 



48 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

species will endure captivity during the spring, fall, and part of 
the winter, but not at all in summer. 

Mitchill had the ray from Barnegat and from off Sandy Hook. 
De Kay did not see the fish, but copied the description and figure 
of Mitchill. Smith refers to it as the " summer skate " or " bon- 
net skate." It is found at Woods Hole from June to October. 
The names " hedgehog ray " and " bonnet skate " are given in 
allusion to its habit of rolling itself up when caught. At South- 
ampton L. I. this species was taken in small numbers Aug. 3, 
1898. 

24 Raja ocellata Mitchill 

Spotted Skate; Big Skate 

Raja ocellata Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 477, 1815; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 68, pi. X, fig. 30, 1896; Smith, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 89, 1898. 

Raia ocellata De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 369, not pi. 65, fig. 212, 1842; 
Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 40, 1883. 

Similar in shape to R. e r i n a c e a, but larger, with a wider 
mouth and with many more rows of teeth. The length of the 
disk slightly exceeds its width. The spines are arranged as in 
R. e r i n a c e a, but additional rows are present down the back 
and on the sides of the tail. Tail nearly as long as the disk; 
caudal fin not separate, with small spines; mouth large; jaws 
curved; teeth in about 90 rows above and 88 below. Color light 
brown, with rounded dark spots; a translucent space on each 
side of the snout; near the posterior angle of the pectoral there 
is usually (but not always) a large white ocellus, with a dark 
spot in the center and a darker border; two smaller similar 
spots often present. (After Garman) 

The spotted skate reaches a length of nearly 3 feet; its egg 
cases are more than twice as large as those of R. e r i n a c e a. 
The species is found from New York to Massachusetts and 
northward. 

I)r Mitchill described a specimen which was 30 inches long 
and 19 inches wide. Dr De Kay calls this species the spotted 
ray. He found the stomach of one filled with rock crabs, 
Cancer irroratus. To the fishermen this and allied spe- 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 49 

cies are known as skate. It has no commercial value in Great 
South bay. In the traps at Islip skates reappear on October 
first on their fall migration. A female was caught near the 
inlet at Fire Island, Sep. 29, 1898. The species was more abun- 
dant later in the fall. 

At Woods Hole, according to Dr Smith, this is the big skate or 
winter skate. It is common from February to June and from 
October 15 to the end of the trap fishing; it is absent or very 
rare in summer. 

25 Raja eglanteria Bosc 

Clear-nosed Skate; Brier Ray 

Raja eglanteria Bosc in Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II, 104, 100, 1800; Gun- 
ther, Cat Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 462, 1870; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 
47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 71, 1806; Smith, Bull. U. S, F. C. XVII, 89, 1898. 

Raia eglanteria Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 41, 1883. 

Raja diaplianes Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. 478, 1815. 

Differs from K. erinacea and R. o c e 1 1 a t a in its 
acutely produced snout, smaller spines and translucent space on 
each side of the rostrum. The length of the disk (12 inches) 
equals four fifths of its width (15 inches). Spines small and very 
sharp, most numerous on the front part of the pectoral, the 
head, the snout, the middle of the back, and the tail between 
the rows of enlarged spines; enlarged spines around the eyes 
and spiracles, on the middle of the snout, in a median row along 
the back, and in two rows along each side of the tail. The 
spines on the tail are very sharp, large and small ones alternat- 
ing in the rows; a large spine in the middle of each shoulder; 
a spine between the dorsal fins; tail as long as the disk, and 
with a median and two lateral rows of moderately large spines 
and one or more intermediate rows of much smaller ones; caudal 
fin absent or very small; dorsals small, the anterior larger, one 
ninth the length of tail in hight; mouth moderate; teeth in about 
50 rows in upper jaw and 48 in the lower. 

Color pale brown, with numerous bands, bars, lines and 
blotches of darker; darker spots in the middle of the pectoral; 
each side of the snout with a pale, translucent area. 



50 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The clear-nosed skate, sometimes called brier ray, reaches a 
length of 2 feet or more. It inhabits the eastern coast of the 
United States from Cape Cod to Florida; it has been found 
moderately common in Great South bay in and near Fire Island 
inlet. Early in September both males and females were caught 
at Fire Island inlet and Wigo inlet, but in October the species 
appeared to be scarce. It has no commercial value in the bay 
and is usually thrown away. 

At Woods Hole Mass. it is not common. A few are taken 
every year in traps at Menemsha, Marthas Vineyard. ' 

26 Raja laevis (Mitchill) 
Barn-door Skate 

Raja laevis Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 327, 1818; Jordan & Evesmann, 

Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 71, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 89, 

1898. 
Raia laevis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 370, 1842; Jordan & Gilbert, 

Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 42, 1883; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 266, pi. 

XXXIX, fig. 2, 1867. 

Similar in shape to K. eglanteria, but larger and with 
fewer rows of teeth. The length of the disk equals three 
fourths of its width. The spines of the body are few and 
small; small patches of slightly enlarged spines on the anterior 
extension of the pectorals opposite the eyes and spiracles; 
slightly enlarged, hooked spines in several narrow rows on the 
angles of the disk in males; a median row, more or less incom- 
plete, of distant spines on the tail and usually a lateral row on 
each side, many of these lateral spines sometimes obsolete; 
small spines on the snout, along the anterior edges of the disk, 
and on the top of the head. Tail nearly as long as the disk; 
two subequal dorsal fins, scarcely half as long as the snout, 
separated by a narrow interspace and extending to near the end 
of the tail; no caudal fin; eye on*e fifth as long as the snout; 
mouth large, jaws curved, teeth in about 30 rows in each jaw; 
length of claspers of the male equals one third of the width 
of the disk. Color usually brownish with paler spots, these 
sometimes surrounded by dark rings. 



FISHES OF \BW YORK 51 

The barn-door skate reaches a length exceeding 4 feet; it is 
used to some extent for food. The species has been taken in 
Gravesend bay in October. It suffers in captivity for the want 
of sand and mud and because of the lack of suitable food, its 
average duration of life is 3 or 4 months. 

Mitchill described an individual measuring 49 inches which 
was caught at a wharf in the East river Nov. 5, 1815. At Woods 
Hole Mass. it is common in spring and fall, rare in summer. 

Family narcobatidae 
Electric Rays 
Genus tetromarce Gill 
Rays with a large electric organ composed of many hexagonal 
tubes between the pectoral fins and the head; disk very broad, 
abruptly contracted at the tail; two dorsal fins, the first much 
the larger, its origin not far in advance of the end of the ven- 
trals; caudal fin well developed; ventral fins large, separate; 
spiracles large, oblong, well behind the eyes, with entire edges; 
mouth small; teeth sharp; skin smooth. Seas of Europe and 
America. 

27 Tetronarce occidentalis (Storer) 

Torpedo; Cramp Fish; Numb Fish 

Torpedo occidentalis Storer, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, 1G5, pi. 3, 1843; Hist. Fish. 

Mass. 271, pi. XXXIX, fig. 5, 1867; Jordan & Gileert, Bull. 1G, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 39, 1883. 
Raja torpedo Mitchill, Trans. Lit. &' Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 476, 1815. 
Tetronarce occidentalis Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 77, 

pi. XI, fig. 33, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 89, 1898. 

Length of disk equals six sevenths of its width and more than 
one half the total length; length of base of ventrals equals one 
fourth the width of disk; eyes small, placed three times their 
diameter from tip of snout, and about the same distance from 
each other; length of first dorsal base nearly equals distance 
between the spiracles ; , hight of first dorsal fin exceeds length 
of snout; base of second dorsal scarcely more than one half the 
length of first, the hight of the fin hardly two thirds of that of 



52 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

first; caudal slightly emarginate, its width and length nearly 
equal, about two sevenths of width of disk. The upper surface 
is dark purplish brown with a few darker spots distributed over 
it; beneath white. 

The torpedo is found on the Atlantic coast of the United 
States from Cape Cod to Florida; it occurs also in the West 
Indies. The fish is usually uncommon except in Buzzards bay 
and Vineyard sound. It reaches the length of 5 feet and the 
weight of 100 pounds. 

Mitchill placed a torpedo among the fishes of New York 
on the authority of fishermen and others who had seen the 
species and knew of its peculiar electric properties. De Kay 
did not see the fish and merely refers to the probability of its 
occurrence and its relation to the genus Torpedo. 

The existence of a torpedo on the coast of Massachusetts 
was made known by Storer in 1843, when he described a speci- 
men caught at Wellfleet, in November 1842. Capt. Atwood, 
a well known former resident of Provincetown Mass. informed 
Dr Storer that he had received a great many powerful shocks 
from the fish which threw him to the ground; these were pro- 
duced by touching the animal. He also received shocks by tak- 
ing hold of a harpoon which was struck into the finn. Storer 
relates an anecdote illustrating the effect produced on a dog. 

Mr Neweomb sr, the oldest fisherman in Boston market, stated 
to me that his father, who resided at Wellfleet, had a dog which 
frequently waded into the shallow waters of the coves and 
brought out flounders which he had seized with his mouth. In 
one of his fishing excursions he attacked a torpedo, which per- 
fectly convulsed him. He dropped the fish and ran away howl- 
ing most piteously, and could never be persuaded to resume 
his fishing. 

At Woods Hole Mass. the torpedo is most abundant in 
October and November. At times as many as six are taken at 
one lift of a trap at Menemsha. The smallest weigh 4 or 5 
pounds, the largest 75 pounds. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 53 

Suborder masticura 
Whip-tailed Rays 
Family dasyatidae 
Sting Rays 
Genus dasyatis Rafinescpie 
Disk usually broader than long; pectoral fins united in front 
to form the tip of the snout; tail very slender and elongate, fin- 
less, but often with one or two membranous folds, and with a 
strong serrated spine near its base; skin rarely smooth, usually 
more or less spinous or prickly, tail with numerous small spines 
in some species; mouth small; teeth small, paved, usually more 
or less pointed or tubercular; a few papillae, usually in the 
mouth behind the lower jaw; nostrils close together; nasal 
valves forming a rectangular flap, which is joined to the upper 
jaw by a narrow frenum; spiracles large, placed close behind 
the eyes. Ovoviviparous. 

28 Dasyatis centrura (Mitchill) 
Common Sting Ray 

Raja centrura Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 479, 1815. 
Pastinaca liastata Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 268, pi. XXXIX, fig. 3, 1867. 
Dasibatis centrura Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 67, 1883. 

(From Garrnan) 
Trygon liastata Gunther, Gat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 476, 1870. 
Dasyatis centrura Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 83, 1836; 

Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898. 

Disk quadrangular, about one fourth wider than long; ante- 
rior margins sinuous, concave opposite the eyes, convex toward 
the slightly protuberant snout and rounded over angles; pos- 
terior straighter, very little convex; hinder angles blunt; ven- 
Trals truncate, with rounded angles; tail more than twice as 
long as the body, much compressed, rounded above, with keel 
or cutaneous expansion below, with one or more strong serrated 
spines at the termination of the anterior fifth of its length, 
rough on all sides with spines or tubercles. Till half grown the 
young are naked; as they approach maturity broad stellate 
based, conical pointed, irregularly placed bucklers appear on the 
middle of the hinder part of the, back and on the top and sides 



54 NEW YORK STATU MUSEUM 

of the tail. Very large examples have the central part of the 
back closely mailed with small flattened tubercles. The buck- 
lers bear more resemblance to those of the Rajae, radiata 
and c 1 a v a t a, than to the tubercles of pastinaca, has- 
lata, or t u b e r c u 1 a t a. Mouth arched forward, with five 
papillae; teeth in quincunx, blunt, smooth. Color of back and 
tail olive brown ; light to white below. From pastinaca, 
which this species resembles in shape, it is distinguished by the 
tubercles, by the length and compression of the tail, and absence 
of all trace of keel or expansion on its upper side. A young 
specimen measures from snout to tail 13.8, in length of tail 
30.5, and width of pectorals 17.5 inches. The largest specimen 
in the collection has a total length of 10 feet 3 inches (Coll. Mus. 
Comp. Zool. Cambridge Mass.). Common south of Cape Cod. 
Occasionally found northward. (After Carman) 

Formerly hundreds of individuals were caught annually in 
Gravesend bay, but now it is seldom seen there. The species 
will live in captivity several months in the spring and summer. 
Mit chill records it as occurring on the coast of Long Island. The 
tail, he states, is 5 feet or more in length. Storer described a 
specimen 9 feet long. He was informed by Dr Yale that the fish 
was abundant on the flats in the harbor of Holmes's Hole, Mar- 
thas Vineyard, in July and August. Near Woods Hole Mass. it 
is common during summer, appearing early in July. 

The sting ray is much dreaded by fishermen, who say that 
wounds made by its spines are exceedingly paintul and danger- 
ous, the slime secreted by the fish acting as a poison. 
Subgenus dasyatis 
29 Dasyatis hastata (De Kay) 
Kit 
Pastinaca hastata De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 373, pi. 65. fig. 214, 1842. 
Trygon hmtata Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 261, 1846. 
Dasibatis hastata Garman, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 70, 1883. 
Dasyatis hastata Jordan & Evekmann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 83, 1896. 

The sting rays of the subgenus Dasyatis differ from the 
type centrura in having a narrow keel or expansion on the 
tail both above and below. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 55 

Disk with the shape and proportions of D. centrura; 
anterior margins nearly straight, meeting in a blunt angle on 
the end of the snout, curved near the outer angle to meet the 
slightly convex posterior margins; inner borders convex; outer 
and hinder angles rounded; ventrals almost entirely covered by 
the pectorals, their hinder margins convex; tail more than one 
and one half times as long as the disk, with a low keel on the 
upper side, a long, broad, membranous expansion below, rough- 
ened with small asperities, and with one or more serrated spines 
beginning in the first fourth of its length; body smooth in young, 
with scattered small asperities in the old; a row of narrow, com- 
pressed tubercles on the middle of the back and base of tail, 
their points depressed and directed backward. On each 
shoulder, parallel with the median row, there is a shorter row 
varying in length according to age. Mouth with three papillae; 
jaws more curved than in centrura and less than in 
s a b i n a. Color bluish or uniform olive brown above, white 
beneath. West Indies to Brazil, north to Rhode Island. 

De Kay's description of his whip sting ray is based on a female 
captured in September off the coast of Rhode Island by Carson 
Brevoort of New York. The length of the fish was 8 feet 6 
inches and its weight 110 pounds. Mr Brevoort stated that the 
whip rays appeared to associate together, as he noticed many of 
similar size and appearance swimming about at the same time. 
They moved slowly together through the water, along the edges 
of the rocks, about 3 feet below the surface. When captured, 
the individual described by Dr De Kay whipped its tail about 
with great activity in all directions. From this circumstance it 
derives the name of whip ray. 

30 Dasyatis say (Le Sueur) 

j 

Southern Sting Ray 

Raja say Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat Sci. Phila. I, 42, 1817. 

Myliabatis? say De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 376, 1842. 

Trygon sayi Muller & Henle, Plagiostomen, 166, 1841; Dumeril, Elas- 

mobranches, 603, 1870. 
Dasybatis sayi Garman, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 69, 1883. 
Dasyatis say Jordan «fe Eyermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 86, 1896. ■ 



56 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Disk quadrangular, about one sixth wider than long, anterior 
margins nearly straight, posterior and inner borders convex, 
outer and posterior angles rounded; snout not protruding be- 
yond the lines of the margins, ventrals rounded; tail strong, 
rather more than one and one half times the length of disk, 
with a strong serrated spine, bearing a short, low cutaneous 
expansion behind the spine on the upper side, and a longer, little 
wider one below, ending nearly opposite; upper jaw undulated, 
lower prominent in the middle; teeth small, smooth in young 
and females, sharp in adult males; three papillae at the bottom 
of the mouth, and one at each side; body and tail naked. Color 
olive brown in adult, reddish or yellowish in young; lower sur- 
face whitish. New York to Florida and Brazil. (After Garman) 

According to Garman, a young female measured from snout 
to tail 7.1, length of tail was 11, and width of pectorals 8.2 
inches. 

Le Sueur's type was from the New Jersey coast. Miiller and 
Henle mention six specimens in the Museum of Natural History 
at Paris, which were sent from New York by Milbert. The 
species has not been reported recently in New York waters. . 

Genus pteroplatea Miiller & Henle 
Disk much broader than long, its anterior margins meeting 
in a very obtuse angle, its outer angles more or less acute, the 
form, therefore, transversely rhombic; tail very short and 
slender, shorter than the disk, without fin, armed with a very 
small serrated spine or without spine; skin smooth or very 
nearly so. Size large. 

31 Pteroplatea maclura (Le Sueur) 
Butterfly Ray 

Raja maclura Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 41, 1817. 

Pastinaca maclura De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 375, pi. 65, fig. 213, 1842. 

Pteroplatea maclura Muller & Henle, Plagiostomen, 169, 1841; Gunther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 487, 1870; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 
. U. S. Nat. Mus. 46, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 86, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898. 

Disk almost twice as broad as long, covered with smooth skin 
(or with minute granulations according to Le Sueur), the snout 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 57 

very little projecting, so that the . anterior margin of each 
pectoral is slightly concave; tail two fifths to one third the 
length of disk, with a slight dermal fold above and below, and 
with one or two spines very near its base or sometimes with- 
out spines; eyes small and near the snout; spiracles large, near 
the eyes; nostrils small, near the mouth, not extending to the 
upper lip; teeth numerous, triangular, acute, each emarginate 
at the base behind; ventrals short, broad and rounded, their 
length less than one fifth of that of disk. Color brownish olive, 
sometimes bluish, finely marbled with grayish, and finely 
speckled; anterior edge of disk with blotches of paler; tail with 
four dark blotches above, forming half rings. Cape Cod to 
Brazil, common southward. 

The spec'es is now rarely seen in Gravesend bay. It does not 
endure captivity. 

Le Sueur's description was based on a specimen 6 feet 7 
inches wide, taken at Newport R. I. He was informed by fisher- 
men that it reaches the width of 15 feet. De Kay copied Le 
Sueur's description and figure. 

Dr Smith says it is rare at Woods Hole, and appears in 
August and September when present. It has the local name of 
Angel fish at Woods Hole. 

Family myliobatide 

Eagle Rays 

Genus myliobatis Dumeril 

Disk broad; pectoral fins ending laterally in an acute angle, 
not continued forward around the snout, but ceasing on the 
sides of the head and reappearing in front of the snout as a 
fleshy protuberance (cephalic fin); tail very long and slender, 
whiplike, with a small dorsal fin near its root, and one or more 
serrated spines; teeth hexangular, large, flat, tessellated, the 
middle ones much broader than long in the adult; several series 
of narrower teeth on each side of the median series; teeth chang- 
ing considerably with age; jaws about equal; free edge of the 
nasal valve not deeply emarginate; skin smooth. 



58 XKW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

:\'2 Myliobatis freminvillei (Le Sueur) 
Eagle Ray 

Myliobatis freminvillei Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. IV, 111, 1824; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna. Fishes, 376, 1842. 
Myliobatis acuta Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 260, pi. XXXIX, fig. 4, 1867. 
Myliobatis freminvillei Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 51, 

1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 89, 1896; Smith, 

Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898. 

Disk broader tliau long, width to length bearing the ratio of 
5 to 3; width of disk equal to length of tail. Diameter of eye 
equals about one fourth of the interorbital distance; spiracles 
behind the eyes and one and one half times as long. Width of 
mouth one half its distance from tip of snout. Free edge of the 
nasal valve not deeply notched. Reaches a length of 4 feet. 
Body and head above, reddish brown; tail lighter at the base, 
but nearly black toward the tip; lower parts whitish. 

The species is not uncommon, from Cape Cod to Brazil. It 
probably feeds on mollusks. 

It was reported to me by men of the menhaden steamer Annie 
Morris that about Aug. 20, 1887, off Hereford inlet, they saw 
schools of sting rays at the surface " flopping along like geese." 
The schools were large enough to have filled a menhaden seine. 
The rays were said to have two spines on the tail. 

Le Sueur's description was based on a Rhode Island specimen. 
De Kay copied briefly from Le Sueur, and placed the fish among 
the extra-limital species. William O. Ayres found an individual 
at Brook Haven L. I., which he described in the Boston Journal 
of Natural History, 4:290, pi. 13. Dr Storer received portions of 
a specimen from Holmes' Hole Mass. Dr Smith records it as 
not very common at Woods Hole Mass., but taken in small num- 
bers every year in traps. 

Genus rhinoptera Kuhl 
Disk broader than long, its anterior angles more or less acute; 
snout more or less emarginate on the median line; cephalic fin 
emarginate and placed on a plane below the level of the pector- 
als, the snout thus appearing four-lobed; free border of the 
nasal valve not emarginate; teeth in 5 to 20 rows, the median 






FISHES OP NEW YORK 59 

teeth sometimes much enlarged, sometimes not much larger 
than the outer teeth; tail long, whiplike, with a small dorsal 
spine behind the dorsal fin which is at the base of the tail; 
ventral fins oblong, truncated behind. 

33 Rhinoptera bonasus (Mitchill) 
Coiv-nosed Ray 

Raja bonasus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Sec. N. Y. I, 479, 1815. 
Rliinoptera quadriloba De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 375, pi. 66, fig. 

217, 1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 494, 1870; Jordax & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 51, 1883. 
Rhinoptera bonasus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S, Nat. Mus. 90, 1896; 

Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898. 

The length of disk equals two thirds of its width; its anterior 
borders almost straight, posterior undulated; pectorals acutely 
produced; muzzle deeply emarginate; mouth wide; nostrils mid- 
way between mouth and tip of snout; spiracles large, longer 
than eye; teeth in seven rows in each jaw, the median teeth 
more than four times as broad as long, the others gradually 
diminishing in size outward; tail very slender, as long as the 
body; a small dorsal fin at base of tail and a slender, serrate 
spine behind it; skin smooth except a few protuberances on the 
top of the head. Color olive brown above; beneath white. Cape 
Cod to Forida; not rare. 

This species is now rarely seen in Gravesend bay, where it 
was at one time very common in the autumn. When Mitchill 
wrote of the fishes of New York (1815) he stated that the cow- 
nosed ray visits the coast, usually about September, in numer- 
ous shoals, entering the bay and ranging very extensively over 
the flats where the soft clam lives. 

These shellfish he is supposed to devour; for a shoal of cow- 
noses roots up the salt water flats as completely as a drove of 
hogs would do. I have seen the water in violent agitation when 
these fishes were at work in the bottom. They render it so 
muddy that they are concealed from sight. Frequently, how- 
ever, they rise to the top and may be distinctly observed. I 
have seen them swim near the surface in clear water. They then 
support and propel themselves in their element by their large 
flaps as a crow or other bird, with slowly moving wings, passes 
through the air. They may be said to fly rather than to swim. 
A full grown individual weighs about 100 pounds. 



60 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Mitchill also states that the fishermen usually allow thes.e 
rays to decay on the shores, but sometimes take out their livers 
for conversion into oil. 

According to Dr Smith, the cow-nosed ray is common at 
Woods Hole Mass. 

Subclass TELEOSTOMI 
True Fishes 
Series ganoidei 
Ganoid Fishes 
Order selachostomi 
Paddlefishes 
Family polyodontidae 
Paddlefishes 
Genus polyodon Lacepede 

Body fusiform, elongate, somewhat compressed; skin smooth 
or with minute ossifications; snout produced into a very long 
spatulate process, the inner part composed of the produced 
nasal bones, the sides flexible and supported by a bony network; 
mouth wide, terminal, but overhung by the snout, without max- 
illaries, but with toothed premaxillaries; numerous fine, decidu- 
ous teeth in the jaws and on palatines; no tongue; nostrils 
double, immediately in front of the eye; spiracles present; oper- 
culum rudimentary, its skin produced behind into a long acute 
flap; no pseudobranchiae; no barbels; no opercular gill; gills 
four and one half; gill rakers numerous, very long and slender, 
in a double series on each arch, the two series divided by a 
broad membrane; gill membranes connected but free from isth- 
mus; one broad branchiostegal; lateral line continuous, its lower 
margin with short branches; air bladder cellular, entire, com- 
municating with the dorsal wall of the esophagus; pyloric caeca 
in the form of a short, broad, leaflike organ, with four or five 
larger divisions, each being subdivided; rectum with a fully 
developed spiral valve; dorsal fin posterior, without spines; anal 
similar, and more posterior; tail heterocercal, with well devel- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 61 

oped lower caudal lobe so that the fin is nearly equally forked; 
sides of the bent portion of the tail armed with small rhombic 
plates; upper caudal fulcrums narrow, numerous; pectorals mod- 
erate, placed low; ventrals abdominal, many-rayed. 
Rivers of the middle United States. 

34 Polyodon spathula (Walbaum) 
Paddlefish; Spoonbill Cat 

Squalus spathula Walbaum, Artedi, Gen. Pise. 522, 1792. 

Polyodon feuille Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. I, 403, 1800. 

Polyodon folium Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 457, 1801 (after Lac§ 

pede); Mitchell, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, XII, 201, 1827; Kirtland 

Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 21, pi. 2, fig. 1, 1844; Gunther, Cat. Fish 

Brit. Mus. VIII, 346, 1870. 
Polyodon spathula Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 83, 1883 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 101, 1896. 

The body of the paddlefish is fusiform with the snout much 
produced, spatulalike. Body scaleless, covered with smooth 
skin; mouth broad, terminal, somewhat resembling that of the 
shark; teeth in jaws very numerous and fine, deciduous; spiracles 
with a minute barbel. The operculum is rudimentary, its flap 
of skin long, reaching almost or quite to the ventral fins; pseu- 
dobranchiae absent; gill arches five, the last rudimentary; gill 
rakers long and in a double series on each arch; gill membranes 
connected, free from the isthmus; nostrils double, situated at 
base of blade; a continuous lateral line from upper part of head 
along dorsal outline to tail; eye small, directed downward and 
to the side; dorsal and anal fins far back, composed of soft rays, 
nearly opposite; tail heterocercal, well forked; sides of the 
bent portion of the tail armed with rhombic plates. The 
pectoral fins are of moderate size and placed low; ventrals 
many-rayed, abdominal. The distance from eye to end of snout 
is about one third of the total length, including caudal. The 
depth of the body is contained four and one half times in the 
distance from eye to base of caudal. The hight of the dorsal 
fin about equals the depth of the body. 

This is known as the paddlefish, spoonbill or spoon-billed 
sturgeon, shovel fish, billfish, and duck-billed cat. Called " sal- 



62 \i:\Y YORK STATE MUSEUM 

moil " in western hotels. The names are derived from the re- 
markable snout, which is produced into a long spatula-shaped 
process, covered above and below with an intricate network and 
with very thin flexible edges. The head and snout form nearly 
half of the entire length of the fish. The fish can not be con- 
founded with anything else in the waters of the United States. 
There is in China a similar fish, which, however, belongs to a 
different genus. 

Distribution. The single species of American paddlefish is 
confined to the Mississippi valley. It inhabits only the larger 
streams in Pennsylvania. It is common in the Allegheny and 
the Monongahela rivers. 

Size. The paddlefish grows to a length of 6 feet, and a weight 
of 30 pounds or more. 

Habits. The species frequents muddy bottoms, but does not 
feed on the mud and slime, as many persons have supposed. 
The long snout is useful in procuring its food, which consists 
chiefly of entomostracans, water worms, aquatic plants, leeches, 
beetles and insect larvae. 

Prof. S. A. Forbes, director of the Illinois Laboratory of 
Natural History, has published the first and most satisfactory 
account of the feeding habits of this sharklike fish. He found 
very little mud mixed with the food. Prof. Forbes was informed 
by the fishermen that the paddlefish plows up the mud in feed- 
ing with its spatulalike snout and then swims islowly backward 
through the water. 

u rphg remarkably developed gill rakers of this species are 
very numerous and fine, in a double row on each gill arch, and 
they are twice as long as the filaments of the gill. By their 
interlacing they form a strainer scarcely less effective than the 
fringes of the baleen plates of the whale, and probably allow 
the passage of the fine silt of the river bed when this is thrown 
into the water by the shovel of the fish but arrests everything 
as large as the cyclops. I have not found anything recorded 
as to the spawning habits of the paddlefish. The young have 
the jaws and palate filled with minute teeth, which disappear 
with age." 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 63 

Mode of capture. The fish are generally caught by seining. 

Edible qualities. The flesh of the paddlefish is frequently con- 
sidered tough and sharklike, but individuals of 8 or 10 pounds 
are skinned, and sold in some of the western markets freely, 
and are thought by some persons to be fairly good for the 
table. 

Order CHONDROSTEI 

Sturgeons 

Family acipenseridae 
Sturgeons 

Genus acipenser Linnaeus 
Body elongate, subcylindric, armed with five rows of bony 
bucklers, each .with a median keel terminating in a spine which 
becomes obsolete with age; a median dorsal series of bucklers, 
and a lateral and abdominal series on each side, the abdominal 
series sometimes deciduous; between these the skin is rough 
with small, irregular plates. Head covered with bony plates 
joined by sutures; snout produced, subconic; spiracles present; 
mouth small, inferior, protractile, wdth thickened lips; no teeth; 
gill rakers lanceolate; four barbels in a transverse series on the 
lower side of the snout in front of the mouth; eyes small; nos- 
trils large, double, in front of eye; gills four; an accessory oper- 
cular gill; gill membranes united to isthmus; pseudobranchiae 
small or obsolete; no branchiostegals; maxillary distinct from 
the premaxillary; fin rays slender, all articulated; vertical fins 
with fulcrums; pectorals placed low; ventrals many-rayed, be- 
hind middle of body; dorsal placed posteriorly; anal somewhat 
behind dorsal, similar; tail heterocercal,the low^er caudal lobe de- 
veloped; the tail not depressed or mailed; air bladder large, sim- 
ple, connected with the esophagus; stomach without blind sac; 
rectum with a spiral valve; pancreas divided into pyloric ap- 
pendages. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

35 Acipenser sturio Linnaeus 
Go m m on Bbw 'geo n 

Acipenser sturio Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 237, 1758; Gunther, Gat. Fish. 
Brit. Mus. VIII, 342, 1870; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47. U. S. Nat. 
Um, 105, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. 0. XVI, 90, 1898. 



64 NEW YORK STATE 1 MUSEUM 

Acipenser oocyrinchus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil, Soc. N. Y. I, 462, 1815. 
Acipenser oxyrMncus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 346, pi. 58, fig. 189 

(young), 1842. 
Acipenser sturio var. oxyrrliynchiis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. S6, 1883. 

The common or sharp-nosed sturgeon has a stout, roundish 
and elongate body, its hight equaling one half the length of the 
head and one sixth of the total without the caudal. The least 
depth of the tail equals one third of the greatest body depth. 
The head is long, one third of total without the caudal, and the 
snout is as long as the rest of the head in the young. The eye 
is one sixth as long as the snout. Two pairs of short, slender 
barbels midway between the mouth and tip of snout. The front 
of the mouth is nearly under the posterior edge of the pupil. 
The nostrils are double, the posterior pair more than twice as 
large as the anterior. The dorsal and anal tins are placed far 
back and opposite to each other. The distance of the ventral 
origin from the end of the lower caudal lobe equals the length 
of the head. The upper caudal lobe is nearly twice as long as 
the lower. D. 38 to 40; A. 23 to 26; V. 24. Lateral plates 27 
to 29; dorsal shields 10 to 14; ventral shields 11 or 12. 

The color of the upper parts is dark olive gray, sometimes 
brownish; the lower parts are light gray or whitish. The pupils 
are black; the iris golden. 

The range of the common sturgeon includes the Atlantic 
ocean southward to Africa and the West Indies. The northern 
limit on our east coast appears to be Cape Cod. In the Dela- 
ware river the fish has rarely ascended as far as Port Jervis. 

Dr Mitchill was the first to call attention to the similarity 
between the American sharp-nosed sturgeon and the sturio 
of Europe. The fish attains a length of 12 feet in America, and 
it is stated that European examples measuring 18 feet have 
been taken. 

The sturgeon ascends the large rivers from the sea in spring 
and early summer. It is very common in the lower part of the 
Delaware river, where it forms the object of an important fish- 
ery. This is the species concerning which so many stories have 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 65 

been related as to leaping into boats and injuring the occu- 
pants. 

The mouth of the sturgeon is furnished with a very protrac- 
tile roundish tube having powerful muscles and intended for 
withdrawing from the mud the various small shellfish and crus- 
taceans on which the animal subsists. The mouth is surrounded 
also with numerous tentacles, with tactile properties, which 
are utilized in procuring food. 

The reproductive habits of the sturgeon and the embryology 
of the species have been made the subject of an exhaustive 
study by Prof. John A. Ryder, of the University of Pennsylva- 
nia, whose monograph forms a part of the Bulletin of the U. S. 
Fish Commission for 1888. The eggs have been fertilized and 
developed artificially by Seth Green and others many years 
ago, and in some parts of Europe the hatching of the species 
has been carried on successfully. The U. S. Fish Commission has 
also recently taken up the culture both of the marine and the 
lake sturgeon, and these valuable fish may soon be reared on an 
extensive scale. 

The utilization of the flesh, the skin and air bladder and the 
eggs of the sturgeon is so well known as to require little more 
than passing mention in this place. The smoking of the flesh 
and the manufacture of caviar from the eggs are very import- 
ant industries along our eastern coast. 

The sturgeons are easily taken in gill nets and pounds, but 
the great strength of the fish frequently entails considerable 
loss of apparatus. 

The common sturgeon appears every spring in Gravesend bay, 
and sometimes in the fall. It is hardy in captivity, 

A female 8 feet long was brought from the mouth of the 
Delaware river May 20, 1897, to the New York aquarium. It 
seemed to take no food till December 1, when it began to feed 
freely on opened hard clams. Early in November 1898, the fish 
was still alive and healthy. 



66 NTEfW YOKK STATE MUSEUM 

36 Acipenser rubicundus Le Sueur 
Lake Sturgeon 

Acipenser rubicundus Le Sueur, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. I, 388, 1818; De 
Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 344, pi. 58, fig. 191, 1842; Gunther, 
Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 338, 1870; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 87, 1883; Jordan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 106, 1896. 

Acipenser maculosus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 339, 1870. 

The body of the lake sturgeon is rather more slender than 
that of the common sturgeon. The snout is rather blunt; in the 
young long and slender. The shields of the body are large, 
about 14 on the back, 30 or more on the side, and eight or nine 
along the abdomen, between pectoral and ventral fins. Each 
shield is surmounted by a strong hooked spine. The head is con- 
tained three and one third times in the length without tail. 
Barbels four, rather long; eye small; dorsal and anal fins small, 
placed far back as in the pike. D. 35; A. 26. 

This is known as the lake sturgeon, Ohio river sturgeon, rock 
sturgeon, bony sturgeon, red sturgeon and ruddy sturgeon. It 
inhabits the Mississippi and Ohio rivers and the Great lakes, 
and is abundant in the Allegheny. From the lakes it ascends 
the streams in spring for the purpose of spawning. I)r Richard- 
son states the northern limit of the sturgeon in North America 
to be about the 55th parallel of latitude. 

Size. The lake sturgeon is smaller than the common marine 
sturgeon, the average adult being less than 5 feet in length. 
The average weight of 14,000 mature sturgeon taken at San- 
dusky O. was about 50 pounds. It frequently reaches a length 
of 6 feet. 

Habits. In the lakes the species, according to observations of 
James W. Milner, inhabits comparatively shoal waters. 

The food of this sturgeon is made up chiefly of shellfish, 
including the genera L i m n a e a," M e 1 a n t h o, P h y s a, 
Planorbis, and V a 1 v a t a. Eggs of fishes are also to be 
found in its stomach. 

In Lake Erie the species spawns in June, for which purpose 
ii nsiniils the rivers in large schools till stopped by obstructions 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 67 

or insufficient depth of water. The breaching of the sturgeon 
is a well known habit. Instances are recorded of serious injury 
to persons by sturgeons throwing themselves into boats. The 
sturgeon will occasionally take a baited hook, but its great 
strength and unwieldiness make it an undesirable fish for the 
angler. 

Large numbers of sturgeon have been destroyed by fishermen 
during the whitefish season simply on account of the annoyance 
caused by their presence in the nets. Xow that the flesh is 
coming to be esteemed for smoking, and the demand for caviar 
made from their eggs has largely increased, the wanton waste 
of this fish has been checked. A troublesome parasite of the 
sturgeon is the lamprey eel (Petromyzon concolor 
Kirt.) which attaches itself to the skin presumably for the pur- 
pose of feeding on the mucus, which is exuded from the pores 
in great abundance, and remains fixed in one position so long as 
to penetrate to the flesh and produce a deep ulcerous sore. 

The lake sturgeon was formerly not very much prized, but is 
rapidly growing in favor. The flesh is eaten in the fresh con- 
dition or after boiling in vinegar or curing by smoking. Smoked 
sturgeon is now considered almost if not quite equal to smoked 
halibut, and the demand for it is increasing. From the eggs of 
the sturgeon a good grade of caviar is produced. " The caviar 
is made by pressing the ova through seives, leaving the mem- 
branes of the ovaries remaining in the sieve, and the eggs fall 
through into a tub. This is continued until the eggs are entirely 
free from particles of membrane, when they are put into salt 
pickle and allowed to remain for some time." 

A large specimen now in the museum of Cornell University is 
reported as being from Cayuga lake. Seth Green informed Dr 
Meek that sturgeons had occasionally been taken in that lake; 
but, so far as he knew, they had never been found in any other 
of the small lakes of central New York. 

H. V. Kipp of Montezuma N. Y. wrote Dr Meek as follows: 

There have not been any sturgeons taken from Cayuga lake 
since 1880, but quite a number before that date, and the largest 
known weighed 35 pounds. 



68 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

37 Acipenser brevirostrum LeSueur 
Short-nosed Sturgeon 

Acipenser brevirostrum Le Sueur, Titans. Am. Phil. Soc. I, 390, 1818; Ryder, 

Bull. U. S. F. C. VIII, 237, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 106, 1896. 
Acipenser brevirostris Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 341, 1870; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 87, 1883; Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898. 

In the short-nosed sturgeon the snout is very blunt and only 
about one fourth to one third as long as the head. The four 
short barbels are a little nearer to the end of the snout than 
to the mouth, and do not reach to the mouth. The head is 
one fifth to two ninths as long as the total to the fork of the 
tail; the distance between the eyes slightly greater than length 
*of snout and somewhat more than one third of length of head. 
The average number of bucklers in the dorsal series is 10 to 11; 
in the lateral series, 25; in the ventral row, seven to eight. 
No preanal scutes. The unarmored part of the skin, according 
to recent observations of Prof. John A. Ryder, is almost free 
from prickles and ossifications. D. 33; A. 19 to 22; V. 17 to 21; 
P. 30 to 31; O. 60, its lower lobe two fifths as long as the upper, 
measuring from the fork. The color of the skin of the upper 
parts is reddish brown; lower parts nearly white; peritoneum 
dark brown; viscera almost black. 

This little-known sturgeon has not been generally recognized 
anywhere except in the Delaware and in Gravesend bay; only 
a few specimens have been obtained in the river, and it is 
rare in Gravesend bay. Prof. Ryder collected five examples 
at Delaware City in the spring of 1888 and has published a 
description of the species in the Bulletin of the U. S. Fish Com- 
mission for that year. 

Size. The largest specimen known was 33 inches long; indi- 
viduals 20 inches long are capable of reproducing the species. 

Uses. At the present time the short-nosed sturgeon prob- 
ably never comes into the markets, on account of its small size, 
which prevents its capture in the nets used for taking the 
common sturgeon. About 1817, however, it was brought in 
the shad season to Philadelphia and sold for 25c to 75c each. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 69 

Reproduction. Spawning takes place in the Delaware during 
May. The eggs are deposited in depths of 1 to 5 fathoms on 
hard bottom in brackish or nearly fresh water. Prof. Ryder 
states that the eggs are extruded by rubbing the belly either 
against hard places on the river bed or against the rough 
bodies of the males, two or more of which accompany each 
female. The gravid roe fish are larger than the males. Prof. 
Ryder found the ova more or less adhesive immediately after 
their removal from the abdomen, but the sticky mucous cover- 
ing is soluble in water. The period of hatching varies from 
four to six days. 

Food. Up to the third month of its life the young sturgeon 
has minute conical teeth in its jaws, and at this age it is be- 
lieved to subsist on " rhizopods, unicellular algae, infusoria, 
minute larvae of insects and worms, crustaceans, etc." Still 
following the observations of Prof. Ryder, we learn that the 
sturgeon, when it has reached a length of 1 inch to 1-J inches, 
has minute teeth on the floor of the pharynx and feeds on 
small water fleas, and probably algae, worms, embryo fishes, 
insects and fresh-water copepods. Later in life the fish seeks 
larger crustaceans, and the adults occasionally contain frag- 
ments of mussel shells. The young fish have been caught under 
the ice in midwinter and are known to pass most of the year in 
fresh water. 

A single small example of this sturgeon was brought to the 
New York aquarium from Gravesend bay May 13, 1896, and was 
alive and in good condition in November 1898. 

Dr Smith records the occurrence of the species along with 
the common sturgeon at Woods Hole Mass., but says it is less 
numerous. It is captured in the traps. 

Order rhombogaxoidea 

Gar Pikes 

Family lepisosteidae 

Gar Pikes 

Genus lepisosteus Lace'pede 

Body elongate, subcylindric, covered with hard, rhombic 

ganoid scales or plates which are imbricated in oblique series 

running downward and backward; both jaws more or less elon- 



70 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

gate, spatulate or beaklike, the upper jaw projecting beyond 
the lower; preniaxillary forming most of the margin of the 
upper jaw; maxillary transversely divided into several pieces; 
upper jaw with an outer series of small, sharp, even teeth, 
then a series of large teeth, some of the anterior teeth being 
usually movable; next a series of fine teeth, in one row in front, 
becoming a band behind. In some species the inner row of 
these teeth contains larger ones; next the vomerine teeth, also 
in a long band, and posteriorly a palatine band. These bands 
on the roof of the mouth are frequently somewhat confluent 
or irregular. In young specimens some of the palatine teeth 
are often enlarged, these sometimes forming regular series. 
Lower jaw with an outer series of small teeth, next a series of 
large teeth, next again a broad band of fine teeth on each 
side. Each of the large teeth fits into a depression in the 
opposite jaw. Pharyngeals with rasplike teeth; tongue tooth- 
less, short, broad, emarginate, free at tip; external bones of 
skull very hard and rugose; eyes small; nostrils near the end 
of the upper jaw; an accessory gill on the inner side of the 
opercle; pseudobranchiae present; no spiracles; gills four, a 
slit behind the fourth; branchiostegals three; gill membranes 
somewhat connected, free from the isthmus; gill rakers very 
short; air bladder cellular, lunglike, somewhat functional; fins 
with fulcrums; dorsal fin short, rather high, posterior, nearly op- 
posite the anal, which is similar in form; tail heterocercal, in the 
young produced as a filament beyond the caudal fin; caudal 
convex; ventrals nearly midway between pectorals and anal; 
pectorals and A r entrals moderate, few-rayed; stomach not caecal; 
pyloric appendages numerous; ispiral valve of intestines rudi- 
mentary. 

Fishes of the fresh waters of North America and China. 
(After Jordan and Evermann) 

38 Lepisosteus osseus Linnaeus 
Gar Pike; Billfish 

Esox osseus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 313, 1758; Mitchill, Trans. Lit. 

& Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 444, 1815; Am. Month. Mag. II, 321, 1818. 
Lepisosteus Uson De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 271, pi. 43, fig. 139, 1842. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 71 

Lepidsosteus osseus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 1870; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 91, 1883. 
Lepisosteus osseus Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 109, 1896. 

The garpike has an elongate, subcylindric body. Its depth 
is contained about 12 times in the length without the caudal. 
The jaws are greatly produced, the upper being the longer. 
The length of the head is one third of the total without caudal. 
Teeth in the jaws rather fine, sharp and stiff; a single inner row 
of large teeth, and an outer row of small teeth on each side. 
The snout is more than twice as long as the rest of the head, its 
least width being from one fifteenth to one twentieth of its 
length. D. 7 to 8; A. 9; V. 6; P. 10. Scales 62 to 65. 

Color greenish; the sides silvery and the belly whitish; nu- 
merous round, dark spots on the sides, most distinct posteriorly 
and most conspicuous in the young, becoming obscure with age. 
Very young individuals have a blackish lateral band. The fins 
are generally plain, but the vertical fins have numerous round 
dark spots. 

The specimen described is no. 36098, U. S. National Museum. 
Its length is 24 inches. 

This is the common long-nosed gar pike of the Great lakes, 
the Mississippi valley and the eastern states from Pennsylvania 
to South Carolina. It ranges south to Mexico and west to the 
plains. Additional names for the species are: billfish, sword- 
fish, bony gar, bony pike, alligator, alligator gar, and buf- 
falo fish. Prof. Cope recognizes two varieties of this gar 
in Pennsylvania. One of these abounds in the Susquehanna 
and the lower Delaware. He distinguishes it by its ro- 
bust form, short face and gill covers and the roughened 
scales of the front part of the body. The other variety occurs 
in lakes and in the Allegheny river and is to be known by its 
slenderer face and gill covers, its smaller size, generally smooth 
scales and the absence of dark spots on the body and fins. It 
should be remembered, however, that the species is extremely 
variable in these particulars, and all of the names based on 
such characters have been generally discarded. 



72 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The garpike attains to a length of 5 to 6 feet, of which the 
head and snout usually form about one third. The body is 
comparatively slender, equaling about one twelfth of the entire 
length. 

This species is more abundant in the Great lakes and large 
streams than in the small rivers. It is emphatically a fish of 
prey and extremely tenacious of life. It spawns in shoal water, 
or in the streams, in the late spring and early summer months. 
Occasionally taken from the northern end of Cayuga lake, but 
not so numerous as formerly. 

The garpike is said to be nowhere used for food, because its 
flesh is tough and is believed to be unwholesome. I have seen 
it, however, with the bill cut off and the skin removed, offered 
for sale in the market at Washington D. C. 

39 Lepisosteus platostomus Rafinesque 
Short-nosed Gar 

Lepisosteus platostomus Raftnesque, Icbth. Ohien. 72, 1820; Kirtland, 

Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 20, 1844; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 110, pi. XXII, fig. 49, 1896. 
Lepidosteus platystomus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 329, 1870; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 91, 1883. 
Lepisosteus plat yrh incus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 273, pi. 43, fig. 137, 

1842. 

The short-nosed garpike has an elongated body, its depth 
being contained seven and one half times in the length; the length 
of the head is less than one third of the length of body to base 
of tail ; distance from eye to tip of snout greater than from eye 
to posterior edge of opercle; upper jaw slightly longer than the 
lower; both jaws with many long, sharp teeth. Dorsal and anal 
fins placed far back, near the tail; ventrals in middle of length. 
D. 8; A. 9. About 55 rows of scales between head and caudal. 
Fins all more or less black spotted. The specimen described, 
no. 3241, U. S. National Museum, from Cleveland O., is 12 inches 
long. 

The short-nosed gar, because of its shorter snout, which even 
in young specimens does not much exceed the rest of the head 
in length, has been considered as representing a separate sub- 
genus, Cylindrosteus of Rafinesque. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



73 



This fish seldom exceeds 3 feet in length. Its habits are pre- 
sumably the same as those of the long-nosed gar, and it is 
equally worthless for food. It may be readily distinguished 
from the long-nosed species by the shape of its snout and by its 
more robust form. 

The short-nosed gar inhabits the Great lakes and the Ohio 
and Mississippi valleys. It is more abundant in the southern 
part of its habitat. It was not recorded from waters of New 
York by either Mitchill or De Kay. 

Order cycloganoidea 

Bow fins 

Family amiidae 

Bow fins 

Genus amia Linnaeus 
Body oblong, compressed behind, terete anteriorly; head sub- 
conical, anteriorly bluntish, slightly depressed, its superficial 
bones corrugated and very hard, scarcely covered by skin; snout 
short, rounded; lateral margins of upper jaw formed by the 
maxillaries, which are divided by a longitudinal suture; jaws 
nearly even in front; cleft of the mouth nearly horizontal, 
extending beyond the small eye; lower jaw broad, U-shaped, the 
rami well separated; between them a broad bony plate, with 
radiating striae, its posterior edge free; jaws each with an outer 
series of conical teeth, behind which in the lower is a band of 
rasplike teeth; bands of small teeth on the vomer and ptery- 
goids; palatines with a series of larger, pointed teeth; premaxil- 
laries not protractile; tongue thick, scarcely free at tip; nostrils 
well separated, the anterior with a short barbel; suborbital very 
narrow; a bony plate covering the cheek, similar to the plates 
on the top of the head; operculum with a broad dermal border; 
branchiostegals 10 to 12; no pseudobranchiae or opercular gill; 
no spiracle; gills four, a slit behind the fourth; gill membranes 
not connected, free from the isthmus; two peculiar, long, lanceo- 
late, obliquely striate appendages on each side of the isthmus, 
projecting backward and covered by the branchiostegal rays, 



74 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the anterior wholly adnate to the isthmus, the posterior free 
behind; isthmus scaleless; gill rakers stoutish, very short; scales 
of moderate size, rather firm, cycloid, with a membranous 
border; lateral line present; dorsal fin long and low, nearly 
uniform; the posterior rays not much higher than the others; 
tail somewhat heterocercal (more so in the young), convex 
behind; no fulcrums; anal fin short and low; pectoral and ventral 
fins short and rounded, the ventrals nearer anal than pectorals; 
vertebrae amphicoelian or double concave, as usual among 
fishes, none of them specially modified; abdominal and caudal 
parts of the vertebral column subequal; air bladder cellular, 
bifid in front, lunglike, connected by a glottis with the pharynx, 
and capable of assisting in respiration; stomach with a blind 
sac; no pyloric caeca; no closed oviduct; intestine with a rudi- 
mentary spiral valve. Fresh waters of the United States. 
(After Jordan and Evermann) 

40 Amia calva Linnaeus 

Bow fin; Mudfish 

Amia calva Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 500, 1766; Gunther, Cat. Fish. 
Brit. Mus. VIII, 325, 1870; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 270, 1842; 
Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 94, 1883; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat Mus. 113, 1896; Dean, 4th Ann. Rep't, 
N. Y. Comni. Fish, Game, Forests, 246-56, pi. $ & $ and fig. I-VIII, 
1899. 

Amia occidentalis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 269, pi. XXXIX, fig. 125, 
1842. 

The mudfish has a well rounded, robust body; head more or 
less conical; top covered with hard bony plates; body entirely 
covered with cycloid scales. The mouth is large; maxilla ex- 
tending far past eye. Depth of body equals three fourths of 
length of head and is contained slightly more than five times in 
length of body. Distance from tip of snout to origin of dorsal 
equals one third of the total length including tail, the dorsal 
fin beginning over the end of pectoral; length of dorsal base 
equal to twice length of head; anal base very short, nearly one 
third of length of head. Strong conical teeth in the jaws; in 
the lower jaw there is a band of finer teeth behind the outer row 



FISHES OF NEW YORK <0 

of large ones. The vomer, palatine and pterygoid bones are 
finely toothed. A small barbel at anterior nostril. Lateral line 
continuous; through 62 scales. There are seven rows of scales 
between dorsal and lateral line and 11 or 12 from lateral line 
to ventral. D. 50; A. 10 or 11. 

The color in life is dark olive, the sides with greenish reticu- 
lations, the belly whitish; round dark spots on the lower jaw 
and gular plate. The male has a roundish black spot with an 
orange border at the base of the caudal fin. 

The bowfin has various common names, among them mudfish, 
dogfish, lawyer, grindle, and John-a-grindle. Its range is as ex- 
tensive as its character is generally worthless. It is found in 
the Great lakes and tributary streams, in the Ohio and Missis- 
sippi valleys southward to Texas, and in eastern waters from 
Pennsylvania to Florida. 

The female bowfin is larger than the male, reaching a length 
of 2 feet, while the male seldom exceeds 18 inches. The male is 
still further distinguished by the presence of a large black spot 
or spots, margined with orange or crimson, at the base of the 
tail fin. The female also has the caudal spot, but very faintly 
developed. The greatest recorded weight of this fish is 12 
pounds. 

Habits. This is one of the most voracious of all fishes. It 
feeds on all other fish of suitable size and also destroys other 
animals within reach. The capture of the bowfin by means of 
the trolling spoon has recently come into greatly increased favor 
with anglers because of the game qualities of the fish and its 
wonderful tenacity of life. The species has been known to live 
out of the water, exposed to the sunlight, 12 hours or more. 
The young may be kept in an aquarium or other receptacle with- 
out change of water for months. The spawning season of the 
bowfin is in May and June, and stagnant sloughs are favorite 
localities for this purpose. The eggs and young are protected 
by the parents, and the young remain in the pools after the 
falling waters cause the departure of the adults. Dr Estes, 
who has made the best observations on the reproduction of this 



76 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

species, states that the little ones are protected in the mouth 
of the parent when suddenly alarmed. The jumping of the 
bowfin is one of its most characteristic habits. Dr Estes saw 
them turn complete somersaults while in the air. 

The bowfin is not a food fish, its flesh being soft and un- 
savory; yet Dr Goode found them highly esteemed as a sweet 
morsel by the negroes of the south. The young are in great 
demand as bait for pike and pickerel, and both these and the 
adults are interesting for the aquarium because of their colors, 
the ease with which they endure captivity, the peculiarities of 
their anatomic structure and their affinities with extinct 
ganoids. 

It is seldom taken near Ithaca and is not common at the 
northern end of Cayuga lake. 

Series teleostei 
Bony Fishes 

Subclass OSTARIOPHYSI 

Order nematognathi 

Catfishes 

Family siluridae 

Catfishes 
Genus felichthys Swainson 

Body rather elongate, little compressed; head depressed, 
broad above; mouth large, the upper jaw the longer; teeth all 
villiform, those on the vomer and palatines forming a more or 
less perfectly crescent-shaped band; barbels four; maxillary 
barbels bandlike, very long; two short barbels on chin; nostrils 
close together, the posterior with a valve; nuchal region with 
a granulated, bony buckler; fontanelle large, well forward; gill 
membranes somewhat connected; dorsal fin short, in front of 
ventrals, with one sharp spine and seven rays; pectorals with a 
similar spine; pectoral spines, and sometimes dorsal spines also, 
ending in a long, striated, bandlike filament; anal fin emarginate, 
shorter than caudal part of vertebral column; adipose fin mod- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 77 

erate, free behind; caudal fin widely forked; ventral rays six. 
Species all marine; in tropical American waters. 

[j 41 Felichthys marinus (Mitchill) 

Sea Catfish; Gaff Topsail 

Silurus marinus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 433, 1815. 
Guleichthys marinus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 178, pi. 37, fig. 118, 

1842. 
JEluriuhthys marinus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 178, 18t>4; Jordan 

& Gilbert, Bull. 10, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 1883. 
Felichthys marinus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. US, 

pi. XXIII, fig. 52, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898. 

Body somewhat compressed, moderately elongate, its depth 
at dorsal origin two ninths of length to base of middle caudal 
rays; caudal peduncle slender, its least depth little more than 
one third of greatest depth of body; head short, snout rounded, 
length of head one fourth of total length to base of middle 
caudal rays; occipital buckler small, oblong, nearly uniform in 
breadth; band of palatine teeth nearly continuous, variable; 
maxillary barbel, pectoral fin and dorsal fin about equal in 
length; eye oblong, small, one fifth length of head; snout about 
one fourth of length of head; maxillary barbel reaches nearly 
to ventral origin; pectoral filament about to vent; dorsal, when 
laid back, almost to adipose fin; ventral origin slightly nearer 
tip of snout than base of middle caudal rays; caudal lobes un- 
equal, the upper two sevenths of length to middle caudal rays, 
the lower as long as the head; adipose fin small, one third higher 
than wide, its length contained three and two thirds times in 
that of head; anal base one sixth total length to base of middle 
caudal rays, longest anal ray two and one third times in head; 
ventral one half as long as head. D. I, 7; A. 23 (16 developed); 
P. I, 12; V. I, 5; B. 6. Vetebrae 20 + 30. Color, glossy bluish 
above, silvery or milk white below. 

The sea catfish is found from Cape Cod to Texas; common 
southward. Mitchill says it "is an exquisite fish for eating;" 
but the species is generally not valued for food. De Kay also 
was informed by persons who had eaten it that the fish has an 
exquisite flavor. He states that it is frequently abundant in 



78 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Conmmnipaw creek, on the Jersey side of the harbor of New 
York. It swims frequently with its long dorsal above the sur- 
face, in the manner of sharks, and imitates those animals in 
voracity. Mitchill had a specimen 20 inches long. 

At Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, the species is 
quite rare, and few have been seen recently; one was caught in 
a trap at Menemsha in 1886. 

Genus hexanematichthys Bleeker 

Body moderately elongate, subterete; head depressed, armed 
with a bony shield above, behind which projects an occipital 
shield; a smaller, crescent-shaped shield at the base of the dorsal 
spine; these shields usually exposed but sometimes covered by 
the skin; skull with a fontanel; mouth moderate, the upper 
jaw the longer; teeth villiform or granular, in a band in each 
jaw; teeth in one or two patches each on the vomer and pala- 
tines, the palatine patches without a backward projecting angle 
on the inner margin; palatine teeth fixed; barbels six (no nasal 
barbels), close together, the posterior with a valve; maxillary 
barbels short, terete; eyes with a more or less free orbital mar- 
gin, the upper edge sometimes adnate; dorsal fin short, in front 
of the ventrals, with a sharp spine and about seven rays; adi- 
pose fin well developed, posteriorly free; caudal fin deeply 
forked; anal fin short; pectorals with spine; ventral rays six; 
skin smooth, naked, except on the occipital and nuchal regions, 
where it is usually confluent with the surface of the bony buck- 
lers. Species marine. 

42 Hexanematichthys felis (Linnaeus) 
Sea Catfish 

4 

Silurus felis Linneaus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 503, 1766. 

Arius milberti Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 155, 1864. 

Arius equestris Gunther, I.e. 173, 1864; Baird & Girard, Ichth. U. S. & 

Mex. Bound. 32, pi. 15, 1859. 
Arius felis and equestris Jordan & Gilrert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 110, 

1883. 
Galeichthys felis Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. XVII, 90, 1898. 
Hexanematichthys felis Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 47, 

128, pi. XXIII, fig. 53, 1896. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 79 

/ 

Body tapering, elongate, terete, its depth at dorsal origin one 
fifth of length to base of middle caudal rays; caudal peduncle 
short, its least depth two fifths of greatest. depth of body; head 
rather elongate, pointed, its length contained three and two 
thirds times in total to base of middle caudal rays; occipital 
process with a median keel, about one third of length of head, 
its tip convex; fontanel forming a narrow groove; top of head 
comparatively smooth; maxillary barbel three fourths as long 
as the head; longest mental barbel little more than one half of 
length of head; eye oblong, placed high, its length one half the 
length of snout, which is one third the length of head; dorsal 
origin somewhat behind middle of pectoral fin; dorsal base about 
equal to snout, highest ray slightly exceeds greatest depth of 
body; pectoral fin reaches about to below end of dorsal base; 
ventral origin midway between tip of snout and end of middle 
caudal rays, length of fin two and one third times in head. Dis- 
tance from vent to anal origin equals longest anal ray. Length 
of anal base equals one half the length of head. Caudal lobes 
unequal, the upper one fourth longer than lower. D. I, 7; P. I, 6; 
A. 16 (13 developed); V. I, 5. 

Color steel blue, sides and belly silvery, lower parts pale. 
Cape Cod to Texas ; common southward along the sandy coast. 

Cuvier and Valenciennes received a specimen from New York, 
forwarded by Milbert. Of its occurrence at Woods Hole Mass. 
Dr Smith made the following record: " Keported to have been 
common in spring in Vineyard sound many years ago, being 
often taken with cod; now (1898) very rare, and only occasionally 
observed since the fish commission station at Woods Hole was 
established. A specimen was taken in 1887, since which time 
none has been reported." 

Genus ictalurus Rafinesque 

Body slender, elongate, compressed posteriorly; head slender, 
conical; superoccipital bone or process prolonged backward, its 
emarginated apex receiving the acuminate anterior point of the 
second interspinal, thus forming a continuous bony bridge from 



80 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the head to the dorsal spine; mouth small, terminal, the upper 
jaw longer; teeth subulate, in a short band on each jaw; dorsal 
fin high, with one long spine and usually six rays; adipose fin 
over posterior part of anal; anal fin long, with 25 to 35 rays; 
ventral fins each with one simple and seven branched rays; 
pectoral fins each with a stout spine, retrorse serrate within, 
and about nine rays; caudal fin elongate, deeply forked, the 
lobes pointed, the upper the longer. Coloration pale or silvery, 
usually with dark spots on the sides. Fresh waters of North 
America, specially in river channels and ripples in large streams. 

43 Ictalurus punctatus (Kafinesque) 
Channel Cat; Spotted Cat 

Silurus punctatus Rafinesque, Am. Month. Mag. 359, Sept. 1818, fide 

Jordan. 
Ictalurus punctatus Jordan, Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Hist. 95, 1876; Man. 

Vert. 300, 1876; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S, Nat. Mus. 108, 

1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 134, pi. XXV, fig. 

58, 1896. 
Amiurus cau da-fur catus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 102. 1864. 

The body of the spotted catfish is rather long and slender, the 
depth contained five times in the length without caudal and 
equal to the length of the dorsal spine. The head is moderate, 
convex above, its length being slightly less than one fourth 
the total length. The maxillary barbels are very long, longer 
than head; eye moderate, five and one half in head; pectoral 
spine two thirds of length of head; humeral process long and 
slender, one half the length of pectoral spine; adipose fin well 
developed; caudal deeply forked. The least depth of the caudal 
peduncle equals one half the depth of body at last dorsal ray. 
D.I, 6; A. 24; V. I, 8. 

This species is variously styled the channel cat, white cat, 
silver cat, blue cat and spotted cat. It is found over a vast 
extent of country comprising the Mississippi and Ohio valleys 
and the Great lakes region. In the eastern states it is absent 
from streams tributary to the Atlantic, but occurs from Ver- 
mont southward to Georgia, westward to Montana and south- 
westward to Mexico. In Pennsylvania it is limited to the Ohio 
and its affluents. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 81 

The adults of this species are bluish silvery, and the young 
are spotted with olive. It is one of the handsomest of the 
family of catfishes and an excellent food fish. The spotted cat 
grows to a length of 3 feet and a weight of 25 pounds. It is 
extremely variable in color and in number of fin rays, and has, 
consequently, been described under more than 20 different 
names. It is most abundant in large clear streams. This 
species is less hardy than most of the other catfishes. 

Genus ameiurus Rafinesque 

Body moderately elongated, robust anteriorly, the caudal 
peduncle much compressed; head large, wide, obtuse; super- 
occipital extended backward, terminating in a more or less 
acute point, which is entirely separate from the second inter- 
spinal buckler; skin covering the bones thick; eyes rather small; 
mouth large, the upper jaw usually the longer; teeth in broad 
bands on the premaxillaries and mandibles ; band of upper jaw 
convex in front, of equal breadth, and without backward pro- 
longation at the angle; dorsal over the space between pectorals 
and ventrals, higher than long, with a sharp spine and about 
six branched rays ;_ adipose fin short, inserted over the posterior 
half of the anal; anal fin usually short, with 20 or 21 rays, but 
varying from 15 to 35 if certain fork-tailed species really be- 
long to the genus; caudal fin short, truncate in typical species, 
more or less forked in forms approaching Ictalurus; ven- 
trals with one simple and seven branched rays; pectoral fins 
each with a stout spine, which is commonly retrorse serrate 
behind; lateral line usually incomplete; species numerous in 
nearly all fresh waters of the eastern United States. 

44 Ameiurus lacustris (Walbaum) 
Lake Catfish 

Gadus lacustris Walbaum, Artedi, Gen. Pise. 144, 1792. 
Amiurus lorealis Gtjnther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 100, 1864. 
Ictalurus lacustris Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 108, 1883. 
Ictalurus nigricans Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 882, 1883. 
Pimelodus nigricans De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 180, pi. 62, fig. 170, 1842. 
Ameiurus lacustris Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 137, 
1896. 






82 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The great catfish has a stout body, a broad and much de- 
pressed head and a wide mouth. The depth of the body is con- 
tained five times in total length, without caudal; the head 
equals more than one fourth of this length. Maxillary barbel 
as long as anal base, almost as long as the head; eye rather 
small; dorsal base short, one half the hight of fin; adipose fin 
well developed; caudal not deeply forked; pectoral spine as 
long as dorsal spine, one half the length of head; least depth 
of caudal peduncle less than one half the greatest depth of 
body. D. I, 5 to 6; A. 25; Y. I, 8. 

This is the great fork-tailed cat, Mississippi cat, Florida cat, 
flannel-mouth cat and great blue cat of various writers. It is 
also called mud cat in the St Johns river, Fla. The species is 
highly variable, as we should suppose from its wide distribu- 
tion. 

In 1879 Prof. Spencer F. Baird received from Dr Steedman 
of St Louis a Mississippi river catfish weighing 150 pounds and 
measuring 5 feet in length. The writer described this fish as a 
new species related to the great black catfish of the Mississippi 
valley, Amiurus nigricans. At the present time it is 
somewhat doubtful whether or not this is merely an overgrown 
individual of the species under consideration, and the matter 
must remain in doubt till smaller examples of Amiurus 
ponder osus have been obtained. 

The great fork-tailed cat is a native of the Great lakes and 
the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, and in the southern states its 
range extends southward to Florida; northward it ranges to 
Ontario. 

This catfish reaches a weight of 100 pounds or more, and, if 
it include the giant form above referred to, we may place the 
maximum weight at more than 150 pounds. Dr Steedman was 
informed by an old fisherman that the heaviest one he had 
ever seen weighed 198 pounds, but it is doubtful that such large 
individuals are to be taken at the present time. In Lake Erie 
this species usually weighs from 5 to 15 pounds, and the largest 
specimens reach 40 pounds. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 83 

The habits of this fish are presumably about the same as 
those of other species of the family. On account of the great 
size of the fish it naturally prefers lakes and large rivers. 
It is a bottom feeder and will take almost any kind of bait. 
This species is wonderfully tenacious of life. It spawns in the 
spring and protects its young, which follow the parent fish in 
great schools. Dr Theodore Gill has reviewed in Forest and 
stream the subject of the eatfishes' care of their young. 

This is a valued food species, though not a choice fish. In 
Lake Erie, according to the Review of the Fisheries of the Great 
Lakes recently published by the U. S. Fish Commission, the cat- 
fish rank next to whitefish in number of pounds taken. 

In Lake Erie catfish are taken chiefly by means of set lines, 
and the fishing is best during the months of June, July and 
August. The method of fishing is thus described in the review 
just referred to. " The apparatus consists of from 200 to 400 
hooks attached by short lines to a main line, which is from 5 
to 27 fathoms long, according to the place in which set, and 
is held in place by poles or stakes pushed into the mud. The 
lines are usually set iu the lake, but occasionally short ones 
are fished in the bayous and marshes. Catfish are taken with 
a bait of herring, Coregonus artedi, or grasshoppers, 
and are mostly used in the families of the fishermen and their 
neighbors or sold to peddlers. . . The size of the catfish 
ranges from 5 to 25 pounds, averaging 8 or 10 pounds." In 
some parts of Lake Erie the set line fishery for catfish begins 
April 15. Some of these lines have as many as 2000 hooks. In 
Toledo these fish bring Uc a pound. The pound nets also take 
a good many catfish in the spring and fall. Erie receives its 
supply of catfish from fishermen who operate in the lake from 
Erie to Elk Creek with set lines during the summer months. 
De Kay had the species from Buffalo, where he saw specimens 
weighing from 25 to 30 pounds, and heard of individuals weigh- 
ing 80 pounds. He states that it is usually captured by the 
spear. 



84 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

45 Ameiurus natalis (Le Sueur) 
Yellow Cat 

Pimelodus natalis Le Sueue, Mem. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. V, ,154, 1819. 
Pimelodns cupreus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 187, 1842. (name only) 
Amiurus natalis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 101, 1864; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 105, 1883. 
Ameiurus natalis Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 139, 1896. 

The yellow catfish is robust, and has a rather broad head. 
The mouth is wide, with the upper jaw usually longer than the 
lower, sometimes equal. The dorsal profile gradually ascends 
from the snout to the dorsal spine. The depth of the body at 
dorsal spine is contained four and two third times in the total 
length to base of tail. The length of the head is contained three 
and two third times in the body length, and equals length of 
anal base. Eye moderate; maxillary barbel reaching end of 
head; humeral shield little developed; dorsal and pectoral spines 
strong, shorter than soft rays; hight of dorsal equal to twice 
the length of its base; adipose fin long as in N o t u r u s , oppo- 
site to and longer than anal; caudal rounded. D. I, 6; A. 24; 

y. i., 8. 

The yellow cat, or chubby cat, is found from the Great lakes 
to Virginia and Texas. It has many varieties; three of which 
are mentioned by Prof., Cope as occurring in Pennsylvania, two 
of them in the Ohio river and its tributaries and the third in 
Lake Erie. The species is not credited to the region east of 
the Alleghanies. Dr Meek saw only a single specimen from 
Cayuga lake. 

The length of the yellow cat sometimes reaches 2 feet but 
averages much less. 

Nothing special is recorded about the habits of this species. 
It is most abundant in sluggish streams. 

46 Ameiurus vulgaris (Thompson) 
-Long- jawed Catfish 

Pimelodus vulgaris Thompson, Hist. Vermont, 138, 1842. 

Amiurus vulgaris Nelson, Bull. Ills. Mus. Nat. Hist. 50, 1876; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 105, 1883. 
Amiurus dehayi Jordan, Man. Yert. 302, 1876; Goode, Fish. & Fish. Ind. 

U. S. I, pi. 234, 1884; Bean, Fishes Penna. 15, pi. 18, fig. 24. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 85 

Ameiurus vulgaris Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 140, 
1896. 

This catfish has a stout body; its depth is one fourth of the 
total length without caudal. The head is contained about three 
and three fourth times in this length. Eye very small; mouth 
large; jaws equal or sometimes lower jaw projecting; barbels 
long; maxillary barbel as long as head. The length of the dorsal 
base is less than one half that of the anal, while its hight is 
five sixths of the same length; adipose fin well developed. The 
pectoral spine is stout and about two thirds as long as the fin. 
Caudal square; anal rounded; least depth of caudal contained 
two and one third times in greatest depth of body. D. I, 6; A. 
18 (20); V. 1,8. 

The long-jawed catfish is found in the Great lakes region and 
westward to Manitoba. Jt is believed to be very nearly related 
to the common catfish, A. nebulosus, but its projecting 
lower jaw will serve to distinguish it. This character, however, 
we know by experience is not so satisfactory as it might be. 

The species reaches the length of 18 inches and the weight of 
4 pounds. It is occasionally taken in the Ohio river, but is more 
abundant in Lake Erie. Jordan and Evermann state its range 
to be from Vermont to Minnesota and Illinois, chiefly north- 
ward. The U. S. National Museum has it from Manitoba. Dr 
Meek found a single specimen which was caught near Ithaca 
among more than 100 of the common bullheads. It seems to be 
rare in that basin. Thompson, who described the fish, had speci- 
mens from Lake Champlain. The long-jawed catfish is similar 
in all respects except its projecting lower jaw to the common 
catfish, A. nebulosus, and may be found identical with it 

47 Ameiurus catus (Linnaeus) 
White Cat; Channel Cat 

Silurus catus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 305, 1758. 

Pimelodus atrarius De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 185, pi. 36, fig. 116, 1842. 
Ictalurus alUdus Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 107, 1888, 
Ictalurus lophius Joedan & Gilbeet, 1. c. 107, 1883. 



86 NEW YOKK STATE MUSEUM 

Amiurus albiihis Jordan, Bull. 10, U. S. Nat. Mns. 84, 1877, figs. 15 & 16, 

1877; Bean, Fishes Penna. 14, pi. IS, fig. 23, 1893. 
Amcinnis catus Joedan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 138, 1806. 

The bodv is stout, its depth equal to length of head, and con- 
tained four times in the total length to base of caudal fin. The 
maxillary barbels reach posterior end of head; mandibulary 
barbels shorter; humeral process, above pectoral, half length 
of pectoral spine, very rough; dorsal fin short, inserted nearly 
midway between tip of snout and adipose dorsal; adipose fin 
well developed; caudal fin slightly forked, the upper lobe longer; 
anal fin long, one fifth to one fourth of total length to base of 
caudal. D. I, 6; A. 19 to 22. Pale olive bluish, silvery below 
without dark spots, but sometimes with mottlings or blotches. 
New York to Texas, in coastwise streams and swamps. Intro- 
duced into California and now abundant there. 

This is the white cat or channel cat, in Philadelphia distin- 
guished as the Schuylkill cat. The channel cat is one of the most 
abundant of its family in the Potomac river. It is abundant 
in the Susquehanna and common in the Schuylkill. 

This species reaches a length of 2 feet and a weight of 5 
pounds. It is extremely variable with age. Old examples have 
the mouth so much wider than it is in the young that they have 
been described as a distinct species. The big-mouthed cat of 
Cope is now considered to be the old form of the white cat. The 
habits of this species agree with those of other species already 
mentioned. The name channel cat suggests a favorite haunt 
of the fish. 

As a food fish it is highly prized. 

Eugene Smith 1 says this catfish occurs in all the larger 
streams subject to the tide in the vicinity of New York city. 
The caudal is furcate. The anal has 20 or more rays. * 

It is frequently caught on set lines with liver or killy bait and 
bites best at night. The flesh is much better flavored than that 
of A. nebulosus. 



'Linn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 11. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 87 

48 Ameiurus nebulosus (Le Sueur) 

Horned Pout; Bullhead 

Pimelodus nebulosus Le Sueur, Mem. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. V, 149, 1819. 
Pimelodus oatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 182, pi. 37, fig. 119, 1842. 
Amiurus catus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 104. 1883. 
Silurus catus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 433, 1815. (not 

tfilvrus catus Linnaeus) 
Amiurus nebulosus Bean, Fishes Penna. 16, pi. 19, fig. 25, 1893. 
Ameiurus nebulosus Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 140, 

1896. 

The common catfish has a Yery stout body, broad head and a 
short stout caudal peduncle. The depth of body about equals 
length of head, and is contained from three and one half to 
four and one half times in the length. Barbels eight; maxil- 
lary barbels as long as head; dorsal profile from tip of snout to 
dorsal fin straight and rather steep; mouth wide and terminal; 
teeth awl-shaped, in broad bands on the intermaxillaries and 
dentaries; dorsal situated in front of middle of body; short and 
high; adipose fin stout; anal large, its base equaling length of 
head; caudal square or slightly emarginate. D. I, 6; A. 20-22; 
P. I, 6. 

This is known as the common catfish, bullhead, hornpout, 
bullpout, and minister. 

This species has a wider distribution than the white cat, its 
range including New England and extending southward to 
South Carolina, west to Wisconsin and southwest to Texas. It 
has also been transferred from the Schuylkill to the Sacramento 
and San Joaquin rivers, Cal. where it has multiplied so rapidly 
that it is now one of the most common fishes of those streams. 
This is the most abundant catfish in Lake Erie and its tribu- 
taries. 

The species reaches a maximum length of 18 inches and a 
weight of 4 pounds, but the average size of market specimens 
is much smaller. In the lower waters of the Susquehanna color 
varieties of this species are not uncommon. One of them 
appears to be the same as the Amiurus marmoratus 
of Holbrook; this supposed color variety is found also from 
Illinois to Florida. The lower Susquehanna has furnished also 
some singularly colored examples of this fish, distinguished by 



88 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

large areas of jet black combined with lemon and white. These 
freaks are among the most interesting and beautiful observed 
in this family of fishes. 

From Jordan's Manual of tlie Vertebrates I quote Thoreau's ac- 
count of the habits of this species: 

The horned pout are " dull and blundering fellows," fond of 
the mud, and growing best in weedy ponds and rivers without 
current. They stay near the bottom, moving slowly about with 
their barbels widely spread, watching for anything eatable. 
They will take any kind of bait, from an angleworm to a piece 
of a tin tomato can, without coquetry, and they seldom fail to 
swallow the hook. They are very tenacious of life, "opening 
and shutting their mouths for half an hour after their heads 
have been cut off." They spawn in spring, and the old fishes 
lead the young in great schools near the shore, seemingly car- 
ing for them as the hen for her chickens. 

The species was obtained in Swan river at Patchogue N. Y. 
Aug. 12, 1898. Young were seined in Bronx river in August. 
Larger individuals were sent from Canandaigua lake and Sara- 
nac lake in November. Several albinos were obtained from the 
Hackensack meadows, N. J., in August 1897. In three months 
they grew from 3 inches to 6 inches in length. In captivity 
the fish feed freely on chopped hard clams and earthworms and, 
occasionally, liver. 

The following notes are from Eugene Smith, in Proc. Linn. 
Soc. N. Y. 1897, p. 11-12. 

Very variable in color, from dark blackish and olive to brown 
and yellowish above, becoming lighter below, and often clouded 
on the sides. Those from tidal or running water are lighter 
colored than those from stagnant places or ponds. 

The largest specimen found by me in the near vicinity of New 
York measured 13J inches in length and weighed 1 pound 2 
ounces. 

At the end of the third year this fish is perhaps fully matured. 
The ripe eggs are of the size of large pin heads and are of an 
orange color; the very young fishes look like little black toad 
tadpoles. The spines are strongly developed at an early age. 
The old fish accompanies the brood for a certain time, always 
swimming around the swarm of young in order to keep them 
together. When alarmed the parent dashes off, followed by the 
whole swarm. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 89 

Dr Meek found the species very abundant throughout the 
entire Cayuga lake basin. Dr Evermann and Barton A. Bean 
obtained the following specimens in the St Lawrence river basin 
in 1894. 

1, St Lawrence river, Cape Vincent N. Y. June 21. 

3, Racket river, Norfolk N. Y. July 18. 

Dr Evermann also collected specimens at the following 
localities of the Lake Ontario region in 1894. 

Stony creek, Henderson Harbor, July 3, 4 

Black river, Huntingtonville, July 5 

Mud creek, Cape Vincent, June 25 

Mouth Salmon river, July 25 

Chaumont river, July 10 

Creek, Pultneyville, Aug. 7 

Mouth Little Salmon creek, July 25 

Sandy creek, North Hamlin, Aug. 20 

Long pond, near Charlotte, Aug. 17 

Stony Island, July 2, 3 

Lakeview hotel, 7 m. n. e. of Oswego, July 17 

Marsh creek, Pointbreeze, Aug. 21 

49 Ameiurus nebulosus marmoratus (Holbrook) 
Marbled Cat 

Pimelodus marmoratus Holbrook:, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 54, 1855. 
Amiurus marmoratus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 104, 1883. 
Ameiurus nebulosus marmoratus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 141, 1896. 

Body moderately elongate, its depth about one fourth total 
length to caudal base; slope of profile very steep; jaws equal or 
subequal; dorsal fin high, its spine more than one half as long 
as head, and nearer to adipose fin than to tip of snout; head 
long, three and one fourth times in total length to caudal base; 
barbels long; anal rays 21; body much mottled with brown, 
greenish and whitish. Lowland streams and swamps from New 
York to southern Indiana and Florida. The type of the mar- 
moratus of Holbrook was from South Carolina. 



90 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

50 Ameiurus melas (Kafinesque) 
Black Bullhead; Brown Catfish 

Silurus melas Rafinesque, Quart. Jour. Sci. Lit. Arts. Lond. 51, 1820. 
Pimelodus pallus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 184, pi. XXXVII, fig. 117, 

1842. 
Amiurus pullus Gile, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 44, 1862; Jordan, Bull. 10, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 93, figs. 46, 47, 1877; Goode, Fish. & Fish. Ind. U. S. 

I, pi. 233, fig. 1, 1884; Bean, Fishes Penna, 16, 1893. 
Ameiurus melas Jordan & Etermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 141, 1896. 

The body of the black bullhead is stout, short and deep. Its 
depth is contained about three and one half times in its length 
to tail; in very deep examples but three and one fifth times. The 
length of the head is contained three and one half times in this 
length. The head is broad, the dorsal profile straight and 
rather steep from tip of snout to dorsal fin; eye rather small; 
barbels long; caudal peduncle stout. Dorsal I, 6; the spine 
strong and sharply pointed. The hight of the dorsal fin equals 
one half the length of head. The anal has 18 rays; its base is 
two and one half times as long as dorsal base. The pectoral fin 
has one sharp spine and seven rays. Tail truncate; adipose fin 
well developed; teeth very fine, awl-shaped and in broad bands. 
Its color is usually blackish or dusky brown, approaching to 
black, while the lower parts are bluish white. The fins are 
black, tinged with red, and the barbels are black. The color is 
subject to considerable variation. The black bullhead reaches 
the length of 1 foot. It is found in the Great lakes region and 
in the Mississippi valley, westward to Kansas and southward to 
Texas. 

This species was known to De Kay as the brown catfish. 
His specimens were from Lake Pleasant and Lake Janet, N. Y.; 
and he states that it is also very common in many other lakes 
of northern New York, where its principal use is to serve as bait 
for the lake trout. Dr Jordan had it from the Genesee river. 
Dr Evermann obtained a specimen in Mill creek at Sacketts 
Harbor N. Y. July 2, 1894, and doubtfully referred to this species 
a young individual collected in Sandy creek, at North Hamlin 
N. Y. Aug. 20, 1894. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 91 

Genus noturus Rafinesque 

Body moderately elongate, robust except in caudal part, which 
is much compressed; head flat and broad; mouth terminal, 
broad; teeth in broad villiform bands on premaxillaries and 
dentaries; teeth o,f upper jaw prolonged backward into an elon- 
gate, triangular extension; adipose fin adnate to the back; a 
poison gland at the base of the pectoral spine. Represented by 
a single species inhabiting rivers and channels. 

51 Noturus flavus Rafinesque 

Stone Cat 

Noturus flavus Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 68, 1820; Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 

154, 1846; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 100, 18S3; 

Ounther, Cat Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 104, 1864; Bean, Fishes Penna. 18, 

1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 144, 1896, pi. 

XXVII, fig. 63 r 1900. 
Plmelodus flavus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 187, 1842 (after Kirtland). 

The stonecat has a moderately elongate body, whose great- 
est depth and width are nearly equal; the tail is much com- 
pressed, and the head flat and broad. The greatest depth of the 
body is nearly one fifth of the total length without the caudal; 
the least depth of the caudal peduncle equals nearly one half 
the length of head. The mouth is terminal, horizontal, its width 
equal to postorbital part of head and to length of maxillary 
barbel; longer barbel on chin not quite one half as long as the 
head. Nasal barbel when laid back reaches end of eye. The 
width of the band of teeth in the upper jaw equals one third ths 
length of head; the backward prolongation is little longer than 
the eye. The distance between the eyes equals length of snout 
and eye. The snout is one half as long as the postorbital part 
of the head. The dorsal origin is at a distance from tip of 
snout nearly equal to one third of the total length without cau- 
dal. The dorsal base is one half as long as the head. The spine 
is very sharp and as long as the snout. The longest ray is 
nearly one half as long as the head. The ventral origin is not 
far behind the end of the dorsal base; the fin reaches a little 
beyond the vent, but not to the anal origin. The pectoral reaches 
to below the third dorsal ray, its spine about two fifths as long 



92 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

as the head. The anal origin is a little nearer to base of caudal 
than to origin of pectoral; the base is as long as the head 
without the snout, one fifth of total to base of caudal, and the 
longest ray equals one half the length of head. The very low 
adipose dorsal begins over the anal origin and continues into 
the caudal; in older specimens it is deeply notched. The caudal 
is rounded. D. I, 6; A. 16; V. 9; P. I, 9. Length of the speci- 
men described (no. 35877, U. S. national museum), 6£ inches. 
In spirits the upper parts are grayish brown, and the lower 
surface of head and body pale. In life the fish is nearly uni- 
form yellowish brown. 

The stonecat is found from Ontario, throughout the Great 
lakes region, south to Virginia and Texas, west to Montana and 
Wyoming. It inhabits the larger streams. Dr Evermann ob- 
tained two specimens at Nine Mile point, in the Lake Ontario 
region, June 11, 1893. 

The species has very little value as food on account of its 
small size. It seldom exceeds 12 inches in length, but it is a 
very good bait for black bass. The stonecats are much dreaded 
by fishermen because of the painful wounds sometimes pro- 
duced by their pectoral spines. There is a minute pore in the 
axil of the pectoral, which is the outlet of a noxious liquid 
secreted by a poison gland. When this poison is discharged 
into a wound, it causes an extremely painful sore. 

Genus schilbeodes Bleeker 
Body moderately elongate, rounded anteriorly, compressed 
posteriorly; head flat; skin very thick, concealing bones of head; 
superoccipital not joined to the head of the second interspinal; 
mouth large, anterior, the upper jaw somewhat the longer; awl- 
shaped teeth in broad bands in the jaws, the band in the upper 
jaw abruptly truncate at each end and not prolonged into a 
backward extension as in Leptops and Noturus; 
branchiostegals nine; dorsal fin nearer to ventrals than to pec- 
torals, with a short spine and seven rays; adipose fin long and 
low, adnate to the body and continuous with the caudal fin, the 
adipose membrane sometimes high and continuous, sometimes 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



93 



emarginate; caudal fin very obliquely truncated or rounded, its 
base also obliquely rounded; many rudimentary rays both above 
and below the caudal peduncle; anal fin short with 12 to 23 
rays; ventrals rounded; pectoral fins with a sharp spine of vary- 
ing form; vent well in front of anal fin; lateral line complete. 
A poison gland opening by an orifice in the axil of the pectoral, 
so that wounds made by the pectoral spines are very painful. 
Size small. Fresh waters of the eastern United States among 
rocks and weeds, specially in small brooks. (After Jordan and 

Evermann; 

52 Schilbeodes gyrinus (Mitchill) 

Stone Cat 

Silurus gyrinus Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 322, March, 1818 (Wallkill 
River, N. Y.); De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 186, 1842 (generic distinc- 
tion recognized). 

Noturus gyrinus Rafinesque, Journ. de Physique, 421, 1819; Ichth. Ohien. 
68, 1820; Jordan, Man. Vert. 303, 1876, Bull. 10, U. S. Nat. Mus. 102, 
figs. 66, 67, 1877; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 98, 1883; 
Bean, Fishes Penna. 20, 1893. 

Schilbeodes gyrinus Bleeker, Act. Soc. Sc. Indo-Nederl, IV, 258, 1858, fide 
Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 104, 1864; Jordan & Evermann. 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 146, 1896. 

The tadpole stonecat has a short and stout body, sloping 
rapidly downward from the dorsal origin to the tip of the 
snout; its greatest depth contained four and one third times in 
total length without caudal; its width contained four and one 
half times. The head is short, broad and depressed, its width 
1 nearly equal to its length, which is one fourth of the total with- 
out caudal. The width of the mouth equals two thirds the 
length of the head; the jaws nearly equal. The width of the 
maxillary band of teeth equals one third of length of head; there 
are no lateral backward extensions. The snout is short, two 
sevenths as long as the head. The eye is small, one seventh as 
long as the head. The maxillary barbel reaches to the base of 
the pectoral; the outer mandibulary barbel is slightly longer. 
The nasal barbel is one half as long as the head. The distance 
of the dorsal from the tip of snout equals that from origin of 
ventral to end of anal. The base is as long as the snout and 
eye combined; the spine is one third as long as the head, and the 



94 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

longest ray equals length of postorbital part of head. The low 
adipose fin begins over the anal origin and is continuous with 
the caudal. The ventral origin is under the end of the dorsal 
base, the fin does not reach to anal origin. The pectoral reaches 
to below the middle of the dorsal. The anal base is one fifth of 
total length without caudal; the longest ray equals postorbital 
part of head. The caudal is rounded. The pectoral spine is one 
half as long as the head. The humeral process is one third as 
long as the head. D. I, 6; A. 13-15; P. I, 8. Color in spirits 
dark brown; the belly and under surface of head paler. 

The .specimens described (no. 1508, U. S. National Museum) are 
from 3^ to 4 inches long. 

The general color is brownish, without blotches. Jordan in 
the Manual says that it has a black lateral streak, sometimes 
with two other streaks above this. I have found none with this 
feature; it is the lateral line itself which looks darker in color. 

The eyes are small, beadlike and at night glisten like adamant, 
indicating a more nocturnal habit. These fishes are called stone- 
catfishes, but they prefer still, muddy water. In the aquarium 
it is even more hardy than the common catfish and often lies on 
its side for hours as if dead, or remains suspended in the water 
in various odd positions. (After Eugene Smith) 1 

Dr Meek had no knowledge of the occurrence of this species 
near Ithaca. The museum of Cornell University has a few 
specimens from the lake, but without definite locality. Dr Meek 
and Mr Harris took several examples from a small stream near 
Montezuma. Dr Evermann secured a specimen in Mill creek, 
at Sacketts Harbor N. Y. July 2, 1841; one in Long pond, at Char 
lotte N. Y. Aug. 17; and one in Guff on creek, at Chaumont N. Y. 
July 7 of the same year. In general it ranges in the Great lakes 
region, through the Mississippi and Ohio valleys, and in New 
York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Its length does not exceed 
5 inches. The species is too small to be of any value except for 
bait, and on account of its tenacity of life it is greatly in demand 
for hook and line fishing, specially in the capture of the black 
bass, for which it is one of the best baits known. 

^inn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 12-13. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 95 

53 Schilbeodes insignis (Eichardson) 
Margined Stone Cat 

Pimelodus insigne Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 132, 1836 (name only, 

based upon the Pimclode livrce Le Sueur, Mem. Mus. d'Hist. Nat. 

V, 155), 1819. 
Xoturus lemniscatus Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 104, 1864; Jordan, 

Man. Vert. 303, 1876. 
Xotnrns insignis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 100, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes, Penna. 19, pi. 19, fig. 26, 1893. 
Scltilbeodes insignis Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. . Mus. 147, 

1896, pi. XXYIII, fig. 66, 1900. 

The margined stone cat has a moderately elongate and low 
body, its width greater than its depth, and the least depth of 
the caudal peduncle about three fourths the greatest depth of 
body. The head is rather long and depressed, one fourth of 
total without caudal, the snout short and rounded. The eye 
is small, its length one half the width of interorbital space and 
little more than one half the length of snout. The lower jaw 
is slightly shorter than the upper; the width of the mouth equals 
postorbital part of head. The width of the maxillary band of 
teeth equals one third the length of head; there is no extension 
backward. The maxillary barbel reaches nearly to the end of 
the head. Six short gill rakers below the angle of the first gill 
arch. The dorsal origin is about oyer the middle of the space 
between the pectoral and ventral origins; the length of the 
dorsal base equals the distance between the eyes, and also the 
length of its spine. The longest ray is half as long as the 
head. The ventral reaches beyond the vent and almost to the 
anal origin, its length half the head. The pectoral does not 
reach to the ventral origin, its spine half as long as the 
head, rough along its front edge and coarsely serrate behind. 
The adipose fin is little developed; it begins over the anal origin 
and is continuous with the caudal. The anal origin is nearly 
midway between the pectoral origin and the base of the caudal ; 
the base is scarcely two ninths of total length without caudal; 
the posterior and longest rays are scarcely one half as long as 
the head. The caudal is rounded. D. I, 7; A. 17; V. 10; P. I, 9. 
In spirits the upper parts are dark brown, the belly and under 



96 NEiW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

surface of head pale. The fins all have a narrow dark margin. 
The specimen described (no. 18015 U. S. National Museum) is 
4J inches long. 

This species, like the others of its genus, is called stone cat, 
and it is very common in the Susquehanna, where it is highly 
prized as a live bait for black ba.ss fishing. The species occurs 
also in the Delaware, but for some reason or other is not so 
attractive to the black bass as the Susquehanna river race. It 
grows to the length of 10 inches. 

The species ranges from New York to South Carolina, east 
of the Alleghenies. 

The dorsal and caudal fins sometimes have a well defined 
black margin, from which originated the later name, N o t u r u s 
marginatus. This is the Pimelodus 1 i v r 6 e of 
Cuvier and Valenciennes and the P. lemniscatusofLe 
Sueur. Cuvier and Valenciennes make the following conclud- 
ing remarks about the species: " The species is probably vivi- 
parous, for the eggs are very large, and contain a well developed 
embryo. The ovary contains many eggs of which the diameter 
exceeds 2 lines, and moreover they are taken from a small 
animal, for our example is 3 inches long." 

54 Schilbeodes miurus (Jordan) 
Variegated Stone Cat 

Noturus miurus Jordan, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. 371, 1877, Bull. 10, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 100, figs. 60, 61, 1877; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 90, 1883. 
Schilbeodes miurus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 148, 

1896, pi. XXIX, fig. 68, 1900. 

Body rather stout, subterete, its greatest depth contained 
from four and one half to five and one half times in total length 
without caudal; least depth of caudal peduncle three fifths of 
greatest depth of body. Head one fourth of total length with- 
out caudal; eye one fifth the length of head, snout about two 
sevenths; maxillary barbels reach beyond end of head; man- 
dibulary barbel three fifths as long as the head; lower jaw 
included. Dorsal origin over middle of pectoral, slightly nearer 
to anal than to tip of snout, the dorsal base one half as long as 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 97 

the head; adipose fin with a deep notch but connected with the 
caudal, its length about equal to head; caudal rounded, its 
middle rays four fifths as long as the head; anal base as long as 
the head without the snout; highest ray of dorsal equal to 
dorsal spine, three fifths as long as head; longest anal ray one 
half as long as the head, extending to middle of ventral base; 
ventral fin one half as long as the head; humeral process short. 

Body much mottled with black and gray and with four broad 
dark bands or cross blotches; top of head, tip of dorsal, middle 
of adipose fin, and edge of caudal blackish; occiput dark. D. I, 
6; A. 13 to 15; V. I, 8; P. I, 8. 

The variegated stone cat has been assigned to the Mississippi 

valley, south to Louisiana, to tributaries of Lake Michigan, and 

to the Ohio valley, where it is common. It appears to have 

been entirely overlooked by ichthyologists till 1876. Dr Ever- 

mann collected five specimens of this fish in Sandy creek at 

North Hamlin N. Y. Aug. 20, 1894. The probability is that it 

will be found in other waters of the Great lakes region. The 

individuals used for illustration are from 3J inches to 4J inches 

long. 

Order plectospondyli 

Carplike Fishes 

Suborder EVENTOGNATHI 

Carps 
Family catostomidae 
Suckers 
Genus carpiodes Rafinesque 
Body oblong; the dorsal outline more or less arched; the 
ventral outline nearly straight; depth from one half to one 
third of length; sides compressed, the back sharp edged; caudal 
peduncle short and deep; head short and deep; its upper surface 
rounded; eye moderate, median or anterior; suborbital bones 
well developed; fontanel present; mouth small, horizontal and 
inferior; mandible short; lips thin, the upper protractile, nar- 
row, the lower narrow; lips feebly plicate or nearly smooth; 



98 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

jaws without cartilaginous sheath; muciferous system moder- 
ately developed; opercular apparatus well developed, the sub- 
opercle broad; isthmus moderate; pharyngeal bones remarkably 
thin, laterally compressed, with a shallow furrow along the an- 
terior margin on the inside, and another more central on the 
outline of the enlarged surfaces; teeth very small, compressed, 
nearly equally thin along the whole inner edge of the bone, form- 
ing a fine, comblike crest of minute serratures, their cutting- 
edge rising above the inner margin into a prominent point; gill 
rakers slender and stiff above, becoming reduced downward; 
scales large, about equal over the body; lateral line well de- 
veloped, nearly straight; dorsal fin long, nearly median, some- 
what in advance of ventrals, falcate, its anterior rays elevated, 
often filamentous; caudal fin well forked, the lobes equal; anal 
fin comparatively long and low, few-rayed; ventrals rather 
short, usually with 10 rays; pectorals short, placed low; air 
bladder with two chambers. Size medium or rather large. 
(After Jordan and Evermann) 

55 Carpiodes thompsoni Agassiz 
Lake Carp; Drum 

Catostomus cyprinus Thompson, Hist. Vermont, 133, 1842. i 
Carpiodes thompsoni Agassiz, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, 191, 1855; Cope, Proc. 
Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 285, 1864; Jordan, Man. Vert. 297, 1876; Jordan, 
Bull. 12, U. S. Nat. Mus. 198, 1878; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 119, 1883. 

Body short and stout, the back strongly arched, the greatest 
depth two fifths of the length to base of caudal fin; head short, 
about one fourth of length, the snout acutely pointed; lips thin, 
white, meeting at a wide angle; tip of lower jaw much in ad- 
vance of nostrils; maxillary reaching to below front of orbit; 
eye small, about one fifth length of head; dorsal about median, 
its rays considerably produced, the longest two thirds as long 
as base of fin; scales rather closely imbricated, 8-39 to 41-6. 
P. 27; A. 7; V. 10. 

Abundant in the Great lakes region. Found in Lake Cham- 
plain. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 99 

Genus catostomis Le Sueur 
Body elongate, fusiform, rounded, tapering anteriorly and 
posteriorly; head long, with pointed snout; eye small, placed 
high; suborbital bones narrow; fontanel present, large; mouth 
rather large, inferior, upper lip thick, protractile, papillose, 
lower lip greatly developed, with a broad free margin, usually 
deeply incised behind, so that it forms two lobes which are often 
more or less separated; mandible horizontal, short; opercles 
moderate; pharyngeal bones moderate, their teeth shortish, 
vertically compressed, rapidly diminishing in size upward; 
scales comparatively small; typically much smaller and crowded 
anteriorly; lateral line well developed, straightish; dorsal nearly 
median, with from 9 to 14 rays; anal fin short and high, with 
seven developed rays; ventrals inserted under the middle or 
posterior part of dorsal, with 9 to 10 rays; caudal fin forked, 
the lobes nearly equal. In males the fins are higher, and the 
anal is swollen and tuber culate in the spring. Air bladder with 
two chambers, the posterior large. Vertebrae 45 to 47. (After 
Jordan and Evermann) 

56 Catostomus catostomus (For ster) 
Long-nosed Sucker 

Cyprinus catostomus Forster, Phil. Trans. LXIII, 155, tab. 6, 1773. 
Catostomus Jiutfsonius Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 107, 1817; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 13, 1868. 
Catostomus longirostris Jordan, Bull. 12, U. S. Nat. Mus. 175, 1878; Jordan 

& Gileert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 126, 1883. 
Catostomus nanomyzon Mather, App. 12th Rep't Adirondack Surv. N. Y. 

36, plate, fig. 1, 1886. 
Catostomus catostomus Jordan, Cat Fish. N. A. 17, 1885; Bean, Fishes 

Penna. 25, pi. 20, fig. 30, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 176, 1896, pi. XXXII, fig. 77, 1900. 

The northern sucker has an elongate body, round and taper- 
ing, with a long and rather slender head. The depth of the 
body is contained about four and one half times in the length 
and equals length of head. The snout is much longer than in 
C. teres, considerably overhanging the mouth, which is large, 
with thick coarsely tuberculated lips. Eye small, two fifths as 
long as the snout and one sixth as long as head; its position 



100 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

in the head is exactly median. Dorsal origin equidistant from 
tip of snout and base of caudal; dorsal base as long as head 
without snout; longest ray one sixth of total length without 
caudal, twice as long as the last ray. Distance from ventral 
origin to anal origin equals length of head. Anal base one half 
as long as dorsal base; longest anal ray equal to longest of 
dorsal and twice as long as last ray. Ventral origin is under 
middle of dorsal; the fin equal to head without snout. Pec- 
toral nearly one fifth of total length without caudal. D. 10 to 
11; A. 7 to 8; V. 10. Scales usually about 100 in lateral line 
and in 28 rows from dorsal origin to ventral origin. 

The northern sucker, long-nosed sucker, or red-sided sucker, 
as the above species is styled, occurs in the Great lakes and 
northwest to Alaska in clear, cold waters. It is very common 
in Lake Erie. It grows to a length of 2 feet and is largest and 
most abundant northward, in Alaska reaching a weight of 5 
pounds. As a food fish the long-nosed sucker is little esteemed; 
but in cold countries the head and roe are used in making a 
palatable soup. 

The males in the breeding season, in spring, are profusely 
covered with tubercles on the head and fins and have a broad 
rosy band along the middle of the body. In the Yukon river, 
Alaska, Dr Dall found the fish filled with spawn in April. The 
eggs are of moderate size and yellow in color. Nelson has 
seen this species seined by Eskimo in brackish estuaries of 
streams flowing into Kotzebue sound. W. J. Fisher has col- 
lected specimens on the peninsula of Alaska. x 

This was not found in Cayuga lake basin by Dr Meek, but it 
occurs in the Adirondack region, and Dr Meek believes it is a 
member of the Cayuga lake fauna. Dr Evermann obtained five 
specimens at Grenadier island, N. Y. June 28, 1894. 

The small race found by Fred Mather in the Adirondacks is 
the ordinary dwarf form characteristic of mountain regions. 
He discovered four individuals, only 4J inches long, but mature 
and breeding " in a little mountain brook emptying into Big 
Moose nearlv north of the Big Moose club house, by a bark 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



101 



shanty known as ' Pancake Hall \" The fish were spawning, 
and he discovered many eggs under the stones. The females 
were brown with white on belly, the male with red stripe on 
the side. 

57 Catostomus commersonii (Lacepede) 

Common Sucker 

Cyprinus commersonnii Lacepede, Hast. Nat. Poiss. V, 503, 610. 1803. 
Cyprinus teres Mitchile, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 458, 1815. 
Catostomus teres Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 15, 1868; Bean, 

Fishes Penna. 25, 1893. 
Catostomus communis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 196, pi. 33, fig. 106, 

1842. 
Catostomus pallidus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 200, pi. 33, fig. 104, 1842. 
Catostomus commersoni Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1883. 
■Catostomus commersonii Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 

178, 1896, pi. XNXIV, fig. 83, 1900. 

The common sucker has a moderately stout body, heavy at 
the shoulders and tapering to the tail. Its greatest depth is 
contained four and one half times in its length to tail, slightly 
more than length of head. Head conical, flattened on top; 
mouth rather large and the lips strongly papillose; dorsal fin 
situated in middle of length; ventral opposite dorsal; anal far 
back; second and third branched rays of dorsal highest, two 
thirds the length of head; third and fourth rays of anal longest, 
almost equal to length of head. D. 12; A. 7; V. 9. Scales 64; 
from dorsal to lateral line 9, and from lateral line to ventral, 
9 or 10. 

The common sucker is also known as the pale sucker, white 
sucker, gray sucker, brook sucker, and, among the Canadian 
French, as the carpe blanche. It is the commonest member of 
its genus in waters east of the Eocky mountains. It is found 
from Canadk to Florida and westward to Montana. Covering 
«uch a wide range of territory, the species is naturally variable, 
and has been described over and over again by many authorities 
under a great variety of names. The male of this sucker in 
spring has a faint rosy stripe along the middle of the side. 
The young are brownish in color and somewhat mottled and 
liave a dark median band or a series of large blotches. The 



102 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

adults are light olive varying to paler and sometimes darker; 
sides silvery. 

The species reaches a length of 22 inches, and a weight of 
5 pounds. It is a very common inhabitant of ponds and 
streams of the lowlands, and a small race occurs in certain cold 
mountain streams of the Adirondack region, where it is dwarfed 
in size and changed in color but does not differ in essential 
characters. Dr Rothrock also obtained a mountain race of this 
sucker in Twin lakes, Col., at an elevation of 9500 feet above 
the sea level. 

The common sucker is a very indifferent food fish in the esti- 
mation of most people, but, when taken from cold waters and 
in its best condition, its flesh is very palatable. It takes the 
hook readily when baited with common earthworms. 

Dr Eichardson says: 

It is a common fish in all parts of the fur countries, abound- 
ing in the rivers and even in landlocked marshes and ponds, 
but preferring shallow grassy lakes with mud bottoms. In the 
beginning of summer it may be seen in numbers forcing its 
way up rocky streams, and even breasting strong rapids, to 
arrive at its proper spawning places in stony rivulets; soon after- 
wards it returns to the, lakes. Its food, judging from the con- 
tents of the stomachs of those which I opened, is chiefly soft 
insects; but in one I found the fragments of a fresh-water 
shell. In the winter and autumn it is common in nets, and in 
the spawning season (June) may be readily speared, or even 
taken by the hand in shallow streams. It is a very soft, watery 
fish, but devoid of any unpleasant flavor, and is considered to 
be one of the best in the country for making soup. Like its 
congeners, it is singularly tenacious of life, and may be frozen 
and thawed again without being killed. 

Dr Meek found this species abundant throughout the entire 
Cayuga lake basin, where it is known as the common white 
sucker. 

Dr Evermann, in his manuscripts on the fishes of Lake Ontario, 
taken in 1894, mentions this sucker from the following localities: 
Stony creek, Black river, Mud creek, Cape Vincent, mouth Sal- 
mon river, Chaumont river, creek at Pultneyville, mouth Little 
Salmon creek, Sandy creek, Long pond, Stony Island, Lakeview 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 103 

hotel, 7 miles northeast of Oswego, and Marsh creek. In the 
St Lawrence river basin he and Barton A. Bean obtained the 
young in Backet river, Norfolk N. Y., July 18 and in the St 
Lawrence river, 3 miles below Ogdensburg, July 17. In the Lake 
Champlain basin these two collectors secured young and half 
grown specimens in the Saranac river, at Plattsburg July 28, 
1894. 

The writer received specimens from Canandaigua lake in 
^November of 1896 and 1897, and seined the young in Bronx river 
in August 1897. The small mountain form was secured from 
Saranac lake in November 1897. It is conspicuous for its small 
size and its red color. The Canandaigua lake suckers, received 
in November 1896, throve in captivity till July 1897, when the 
warm water killed them. 

Color brownish, olivaceous above, silvery below; the young 
are much blotched and marked on sides and back. It is occas- 
ionally caught on the hook. Young ones, in captivity, though 
they always grub about, and though they take food offered 
them, do not thrive and gradually starve. They remain wild 
and take alarm easily and often leap out of their tank. This 
species enters slightly brackish water. Eugene Smith 1 

58 Catostomus nigricans Le Sueur 
Hog Sucker; Stone Roller 

Catostomus nigricans Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 102, 1817; 
Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 17, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 130., 1883; Bean,. Fishes Penna. 26, pi. 21, fig, 
31, 1893; Jordan & Evermaxx, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 181, 1896; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 202, 1842. 

Exoglossum (EypenteJiwn) macropterum Raeixesque, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci- 
Phila. I, 420, pi. 17, fig. 3, 1817. 

The stone roller has a peculiar physiognomy. The head is 
flattened on top, the interorbital space is concave and the fron- 
tal bone short, broad and thick. The body is subterete, its 
depth being contained four and one third times in the length 
without caudal or equal to length of head. The eye is rather 
small, being contained three times in length of snout; mouth 
large, lips well developed and strongly papillose; fins all large; 

^inn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 13-14. 



104 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the dorsal base equals two thirds of length of head, while the 
pectoral is considerably longer than the dorsal. Caudal moder- 
ately forked; lateral line fully developed, on median line of body;, 
scales moderate, equal. D. 11; A. 7; V. 9. Scales 7-52-7. 

Specimen examined, no. 8446, U. S. National Museum, from 
Cayuga lake, N. Y. 

The stone roller has a wide distribution and a remarkable 
variety of common names. Among them are;, hammerhead, 
stone lugger, stone toter, crawl-a-bottom, hog molly, hog mullet, 
mud sucker, hog sucker, banded sucker, large-scaled sucker, and 
black sucker. The name, shoemaker, was formerly applied to 
this species in Lake Erie, perhaps on account of the resemb- 
lance of its color to that of shoemaker's pitch. 

Prof. Cope says that this species in Pennsylvania is most 
abundant in tributaries of the Ohio and in the Susquehanna, 
while in the Delaware it is uncommon. It ranges from western 
New York to North Carolina and westward to Kansas. It is 
the most remarkable-looking of all the suckers of New York, 
and may always easily be distinguished by the shape of its 
head. The species grows very large, reaching a length of 2 feet. 
It delights in rapid streams of cold, clear water. Its habit 
is to rest quietly on the bottom, where its color protects it 
from observation. It is sometimes found in small schools. The 
spawning season is in spring, and the young are abundant in 
small creeks, as well as in the rivers. The food consists of 
insect larvae and small shells, and it is specially fitted for secur- 
ing its prey under stones in the rapids. 

As a food fish this sucker has little value. 

Genus erimyzon Jordan 

Body oblong, compressed; head moderate; mouth moderate, 
somewhat inferior, the upper lip well developed, freely protrac- 
tile, the lower moderate, infolded, inversely Y-shaped in outline, 
plicate, with 12 to 20 folds on each side; lower jaw without 
cartilaginous sheath, rather stronger than usual, and oblique 
when the mouth is closed; eye moderate; suborbital bones well. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 105 

developed, not much narrower than the fleshy part of the cheek 
below them; opercular bones moderately developed, not rugose; 
fontanel rather large; gill rakers rather long; pharyngeal 
bones weak; the teeth quite small, slender, and weak, rapidly 
diminishing in length upward, each tooth narrowly compressed, 
with a cusp on the inner margin of the cutting surface; scales 
rather large, more or less crowded forward; no lateral line; 
dorsal fin rather short and high, rays usually 11 or 12; pectoral 
fins moderate; anal fin high and short, more or less emarginate 
or bilobed in adult males; caudal fin moderately forked or lunate, 
its v lobes subequal. Air bladder with two chambers. (After 
Jordan and Evermann) 

59 Erimyzon sucetta (Lacepede) 
Chub Sucker 

Cyprinus sucetta Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 503, 006, 610, 1803. 

Catostomus sucetta Le Sueur. Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 109, 1817. 

Labeo giMosus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 191, pi. 32, fig. 101, 1812 

(dorsal incorrect). 
Catostomus tuberculatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fislies, 199, pi. 31, fig. 97, 

1842. 
Labeo esopus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fislies, 195, 1842. 
Erimyzon goodei Jordan, Bull. 12, U. S. Nat. Mus. 148, 1878; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 134, 1883; Goode, Fish, and Fish. 

Ind. U. S. pi. 221, 1884. 
Erimyzon sucetta (part) Bean, Fishes Penna. 27, 1893. 
Erimyzon sucetta Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 185, 1896. 

The body of the chub sucker is oblong, rather deep and com- 
pressed. Its depth one third of standard length. The head is 
rather short, broad above, its length one fourth of total length 
to caudal. The mouth is rather small and but slightly inferior, 
protractile. The eye is contained five times in length of head 
and slightly less than twice in its distance from tip of snout. 
Dorsal short, rather high, placed in middle of length; ventrals 
directly underneath; highest dorsal ray (fourth) not quite equal 
to second anal ray, about two thirds of length of head; caudal 
slightly forked. No lateral line. D. 12 to 15; A. 7 to 8; V. I, 7. 
Scales 37 to 40; transverse 13 to 15. 

The chub sucker here described is the southern form which 
was first made known by Lacepede from an individual received 



106 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

from Charleston S. C. Jordan and Evermann now give the dis- 
tribution of this form as extending from Virginia to Texas. It 
appears to reach a little farther northward if the references 
to De Kay are properly made. His Labeo gibbosus and 
e s o p u s and the Catostomus tuberculatus seem to 
indicate the southern chub sucker. 

The species reaches the length of 1 foot. It has very little 
value as food, but the young furnish excellent food for the larger 
fishes and are very interesting for aquarium purposes. 

60 Erimyzon sucetta oblongus (Mitchill) 
Chub Sucker; Greek Fish 

Cyprinus oblongus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 459, 1815. 
Labeo elegans De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 192, pi. 31, fig. 10O, 1842. 
Labeo oblongus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 193, pi. 42, fig. 136, 1842. 
Moxostoma oblongum Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 21, 1868. 
Erimyzon sucetta Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 133, 1883; 

Goode, Fish, and Fish. Ind. U. S. pi. 220, 1884; Bean, Fishes Penna. 

27, 1893 (part). 
Erimyzon sucetta oblongus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

186, 1896, pi. XXXVI, fig. 89, 1900. 

The northern chub sucker has the body more slender, its 
greatest depth being less than one third of the total length with- 
out the caudal. The nape is less gibbous than in E. sucetta. 
The caudal peduncle is more slender, its greatest depth being 
scarcely one third of the greatest depth of the body (two fifths in 
sucetta). The head is small and short, the eye less than one 
fifth as long as the head, the dorsal base shorter and the fins 
containing fewer rays (1.1 in sucetta oblongus, 14 in 
sucetta). 

This is known as the chub sucker, sweet sucker, rounded* 
sucker, creekfish and mullet. It has a wide range, practically 
including all the waters of the United States east of the Rocky 
mountains. 

The chub sucker grows to a length of about 1 foot. It is very 
tenacious of life and is a ready biter, but has little value for 
food. The young up to the length of several inches have a very 
distinct black lateral band. They are often found in the shelter 
of water lilies and other aquatic plants close to brackish waters. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 107 

Dr Evermann collected two specimens in Black creek, tribu- 
tary of Oswego river, at Scriba Corners N. Y. July 17, 1894. Dr 
Meek found it very common about Cayuga and Montezuma N. Y., 
but did not observe it near Ithaca. In the market of New York, 
according to De Kay, the chub sucker makes its appearance in 
October, November and December. Specimens were seined in 
Bronx river in August 1897. 

A young example sent from near Princeton N. J. by Prof. 
Ulric Dahlgren in September 1897 showed the following volun- 
tary change of color. When it arrived, it had the broad, longi- 
tudinal, median band well developed and the vertical bands 
obsolete; but soon after it was placed in a tank it obscured the 
longitudinal band entirely and developed the vertical bands. 

The food of the chub sucker consists chiefly of minute crusta- 
ceans, insect larvae and aquatic plants. 

Genus ml\ytrema Jordan 

Body rather elongate, subterete, becoming deep and rather 
compressed with age; scales rather large and nearly uniform 
in size; lateral line interrupted in the adult, but with perfect 
tubes, imperfect in partly grown individuals, and obsolete in the 
young; head moderate, rather broad above; mouth moderate, 
inferior, horizontal; the upper lip well developed, freely protrac- 
tile; the lower rather small, infolded, inversely V-shaped in 
outline, lower jaw without cartilaginous sheath; eye moderate, 
rather high, nearly median; suborbital bones well developed; 
opercular bones well developed, not very rough; fontanel 
rather large; gill rakers rather long; isthmus moderate; pharyn- 
geal bones essentially as in M o x o s t o m a; dorsal fin rather 
short and high, inserted somewhat nearer to tip of snout than to 
base of caudal; pectoral fins moderate, placed low; anal high 
and short; ventrals short, midway between tip of snout and base 
of caudal; caudal fin moderately forked, the lobes equal; air 
bladder with two chambers. Head in males tuberculate in 
spring. 



108 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

61 Minytrema melanops (Kafinesque) 
Striped Sucker; Spotted Sucker; Sand Sucker 

Catostomus melanops Kafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 57, 1820; Kirtland, Bost^ 

Jour. Nat. Hist. V, 271, pi. 20, fig. 3, 1845. 
Catostomus fascia his Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 19, 1868. 
Minytrema melanops Jordan, Bull. 12, U. S, Nat. Mus. 138, 1878; Jordan 

& Gilbert, Bull.' 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 136, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 

2S, pi. 21, fig. 32, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47. U. S. Nat. Mus. 

187, 1896, pi. XXXVI, fig. 90, 1900. 

Body oblong, robust in adults, its greatest depth one fourth 
total length to base of caudal; head moderate, subcorneal, its- 
length contained about four and one half times in total length; 
eye placed high and in the middle of length of head, its diameter 
2 in snout, 5 in head; nostrils about over the angle of the mouth; 
scales large, firm, in about 48 longitudinal and 12 or 13 trans- 
verse rows; dorsal origin over tip of pectoral, its base as long 
as its longest ray; ventrals nearly under middle of dorsal, length 
one sixth of total; longest anal ray nearly one fifth of total; 
least depth of caudal peduncle about one half the length of 
head. D. 12; A. 7; V. 9. Color dusky above, coppery below, 
usually a dusky blotch behind dorsal fin; scales mostly with a 
dark spot at the base, the spots forming longitudinal stripes. 

The striped sucker, also called soft sucker, sand sucker and 
black-nosed sucker, is found in the. Great lakes and south to 
South Carolina and Texas. In Pennsylvania it is limited to 
Lake Erie and the Ohio valley. In New York it is to be expected 
in Lake Ontario and its tributaries, and should also occur in 
Chautauqua lake. 

The striped sucker grows to a length of 18 inches. Old males 
have the head tuberculate in the breeding season in the spring. 
The species is very readily distinguished by the dark stripes 
along the sides produced by spots at the base of each scale. In 
the young of this sucker there is no lateral line, but in adults 
it is almost entire. 

This sucker prefers clear, sluggish waters and grassy ponds. 
It readily adapts itself to life in the aquarium. It feeds almost 
entirely on mollusks, insects and insect larvae. The species i» 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 109 

not much esteemed as a food fish, though it is sold in large 
numbers. 

Minytrema melanops is normally without a lateral 
line, but this feature is occasionally partially developed and has 
caused some confusion in assigning certain individuals to their 
proper genus; indeed, .one author has described and figured the 
striped sucker as two species, belonging to two different genera, 
having been misled by this undeveloped character. 

Genus moxostoma Rafinesque 

Body moderately elongate, sometimes nearly round, usually 
compressed; scales large, nearly uniform in size; lateral line com- 
plete, straight or anteriorly curved; head varying in length, sub- 
conical; eye usually rather large, placed moderately high; sub- 
orbital bones very narrow; fontanelle well developed; mouth 
varying much in size, inferior, the mandible horizontal or nearly 
so ; lips unusually well developed, the form of the lower varying, 
usually with a slight median fissure, but never deeply incised; 
lips with transverse folds which are rarely broken up to form 
papillae; jaws without cartilaginous sheath; muciferous system 
well developed; opercular bones moderately developed, nearly 
smooth; isthmus broad; gill rakers weak, moderately long; 
pharyngeal bones rather weak, the teeth rather coarser than in 
Erimyzon and Oatostomus, strongly compressed, the 
lower five or six stronger than the others, which rapidly dimin- 
ish in size upward, each with a prominent internal cusp; dorsal 
fin nearly median, moderately long; anal fin short and high, with 
seven developed rays; caudal fin deeply forked; air bladder with 
three chambers. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

62 Moxostoma anisurum (Rafinesque) 
White-nosed Sucker 

Catostomus anisurus Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 54, 1820; Kirtland, Bost.. 

Jour. Nat. Hist. V, 269, pi. 20, fig. 2, 1845; Stoker, Syn. Fish. N. A. 

172, 1846. 
Catostomus carpio Gttnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 20, 1868. 
Myxostoma unisura Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 2, 315, 1878; Bull. 12, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 126, 1878. 



110 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Moxostoma anisurum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 141, 
16S3; Bean, Fishes Penna. 28, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47. 
TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 190, 1896. 

The body is elongate, little compressed, slightly arched ante- 
riorly, its greatest depth contained three and one third times in 
the length to end of scales. The head is moderate, flat and 
broad above, its length less than one fourth of the total without 
the caudal. Mouth slightly inferior; upper lip thin, lower 
strongly Y-shaped; eye large, about one half as long as the 
snout, which is rather blunt and does not project much beyond 
the mouth; fins all well developed. The dorsal is large; its first 
ray is as long as the base of the fin, or about seven eighths as 
long as the head. Upper margin of dorsal nearly straight. 
Pectorals nearly reach to ventrals; the upper caudal lobe nar- 
row and longer than the lower. D. 15; A. 7 to 8; V. 8.^ Scales 
5 to 6-43 to 46-4 to 5. Here described in part from a specimen 
measuring 16 inches, from Ohio. 

The white-nosed sucker is found sparingly in the Ohio river 
and the Great lakes region; widely distributed, but nowhere 
abundant. Cuvier and Valenciennes received from Milbert a 
specimen sent from Lake Ontario, measuring about 2 feet. Dr 
Jordan says this is very closely related to the common red 
horse, from which it can hardly be distinguished except by its 
fins. Dr Evermann collected a single specimen at Fox island, 
N. Y. June 29, 1894; he also obtained a specimen, 12 inches long, 
at Pointbreeze N. Y. Aug. 21, 1894, which he refers to this 
species, though indicating some characters in which it differs 
from the normal form of the white-nosed sucker. 

63 Moxostoma aureolum (Le Sueur) 
Red Horse 

Catostomus aureolus Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nait. Sci. Phila. I, 95, 1817; De 

Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 201, pi. 42, fig. 133, 1842. 
Catostomus oneida De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 198, 1842. Oneida Lake. 
Catostomus duquesnii Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. V, 268, pi. 20, fig. 1, 

pi. 21, fig. 2, 1845; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 18, 1868, 

Youghiogheny River, Pa. 
Moooostoma aureolum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 140, 1883; 

Bean, Fisfies Penna. 30, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 192, 1896. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 111 

Body oblong, the back in front of dorsal elevated and com- 
pressed, head short, conical, broad between eyes. The eye is 
rather large, one fourth length of head, which is contained five 
times in total length without caudal. The depth of the body 
is contained three and one half times in this length. Caudal 
peduncle deep, compressed, its least depth equal to one half the 
length of head; mouth small; the snout somewhat projecting; 
fins all well developed; the anterior rays of dorsal longest, as 
long as dorsal base, pectoral or longest anal rays, equaling 
length of head; caudal forked y scales large, about equal in size 
all over the body, and finely striated. D. 15; A. 8. Scales 6-16 
-6; lateral line complete. 

The red horse has the additional names of golden red horse, 
golden sucker, mullet, golden mullet, and lake mullet. It in- 
habits the Great lakes and the region northward, also the Ohio 
valley. It is common in Lake Erie but not in the Ohio. 

This species grows to a length of 18 inches and is one of the 
handsomest of the suckers. Prof. Forbes records it from lakes 
of northern Illinois, also abundantly in the central part of that 
state. 

Dr Evermann, in collecting fishes of the Lake Ontario region, 
secured it at the following localities: Lake Ontario, 4 miles off 
Nine Mile point, N. Y. June 12, 1893; lake shore, 3 miles west of 
Oswego, July 17, 1894; mouth Salmon river, July 25, 1894; Long- 
pond, Charlotte N. Y. Aug. 17, 1894 ; Sandy creek, North Hamlin 
N. Y. Aug. 20, 1894. 

Dr Meek identified a single specimen of the so called common 
red horse of Cayuga lake with Moxostoma macrole- 
p i d o t u m , and stated, on the authority of Mr Kipp, that it 
is common at the northern end. Jordan and Evermann, however, 
do not extend the range ofmacrolepidotum so far north, 
and it is probable that the common Moxostoma of Cayuga 
lake is M. aureolum. 

De Kay records the species as very common in Lake Erie. 
In August and September he observed them to be full of worms. 
In his New York Fauna, Fishes, p. 198, he describes a sucker or 
mullet under the name Oneida sucker. This, he stated, is com- 



112 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

mon in Oneida lake. The species is considered identical with 
Moxostoma aureolum. His description shows a very- 
close agreement with that ofanreolum given above. 

The food of the red horse consists chiefly of mollusks and in- 
sects. It is not a choice food fish. 

Eugene Smith 1 records this form as occurring in the vicinity 
of New York city. Mention has already been made Of the doubt 
concerning the northern limits of the range of macrole- 
pidotum; but for the sake of comparison the brief descrip- 
tion of macrolepidotum published by Jordan and Ever- 
mann is given herewith. 

Head moderate, rather stout, its length four and three fifths 
in body; eye one and two thirds in snout; dorsal fin with its free 
edge concave; scales usually with dusky shade at base; lower 
fins pale. Streams about Chesapeake and Delaware bays, and 
southward to North Carolina. It seems in some respects inter- 
mediate between M. aureolum and M. crassilabre, 
but we can not at present identify it with either. 

Family cyprinidae 

Carps 

Genus campostoma Agassiz 

Body moderately elongate, little compressed; mouth normal, 
the jaws with thick lips and rudiment of a. hard sheath; pre- 
maxillaries protractile; no barbel; teeth 4-4, or 1, 4-4, 0, with ob- 
lique grinding surface, and a slight hook on one or two teeth; 
air bladder suspended in the abdominal cavity and entirely sur- 
rounded by many convolutions of the long alimentary canal, 
which is six to nine times the total length of the body; ovaries 
similarly enclosed by the alimentary canal; peritoneum black; 
pseudobranchiae present; scales moderate; lateral line present; 
dorsal nearly over ventrals; anal short; no spines. Herbivo- 
rous. Sexual differences very great, the males being covered 
with large tubercles in spring. The singular arrangement of 
the intestines in relation to the air bladder is peculiar to C a m - 
p o s t o m a among all known fishes. (After Jordan and Ever- 
mann) 

^inn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 14. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 113 

64 Campostoma anomalum (Rafinesque) 
Stone Roller; Stone Lugger 

JRutllus anomalus Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 52, 1820. 

Mxoglossum diibium Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. V, 272, pi. 21, fig. 1, 

1845. 
Vampostoma dubium Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 183, 1868. 
■Compostoma anomalum Agassiz, Amer. Jour. Sci. Arts. 218, 1855; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 149, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 32. 

1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 205, 1896, pi. 

XXXIX, fig. 95, 1900. 

In the stone roller the body is moderately stout and not 
greatly compressed; the caudal peduncle long and deep. The 
greatest depth of the body is contained four to four and one 
lialf times in the total length without the caudal; the depth of 
the caudal peduncle, eight and one half to nine times in the 
same length. The snout is obtuse, twice as long as the eye, and 
two fifths as long as the head. The maxilla reaches to the ver- 
tical from the posterior nostril, which is more than twice as far 
from tip of snout as from eye. The dorsal origin is over the 
20th scale of the lateral line, and the ventral origin under the 
19th. The dorsal base is one half and its longest ray two 
thirds as long a's the head. The ventral reaches nearly to vent. 
The pectoral is one sixth of total length without caudal. The 
anal origin is under the 32d scale of the lateral line; the anal 
base is as long as the snout, and the longest ray equal to head 
not including the snout. The caudal is moderately forked. D. 
8; A. 7 or 8. Scales 8-52 to 53-8; teeth 4-4. 

Color in spirits brownish above, lower parts pale. In living 
examples the scales are somewhat mottled with blackish, and 
there is a dusky vertical bar behind the opercle; dorsal and anal 
fins olivaceous in females and with a nearly median dusky cross 
l)ar. Breeding males have the iris orange, the dorsal and anal 
fins crimson, and the head and sometimes the body covered with 
large roundish tubercles. 

The stone roller is likewise called stone toter, stone lug- 
ger, and steel-back minnow. It is a fish of very wide distribu- 
tion, ranging from western New York to North Carolina and 
throughout the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, west to Wyoming 



114 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and southwest to Texas. It is an extremely variable species 
and everywhere common. The species grows to the length of 
eight inches. It has no importance as food for man. It feeds 
on aquatic plants. The young are hardy in the aquarium, where 
they feed on confervae and diatoms. The sexes are very unlike. 
The males in the breeding season have the head and frequently 
the entire body covered with large tubercles and the upper half 
of the dorsal and anal fins fiery orange, with a dark cross bar- 
about the middle of these fins. 

The fish is rather sluggish, but when frightened its move- 
ments are very rapid. It is a bottom feeder. 

Dr Evermann collected a moderate number of specimens at 
the following New York localities: Salt brook, 1-J miles above 
Nine Mile point, June 11, 1893; creek, Pultneyville, Aug. 7, 1894; 
Long pond, Charlotte, Aug. 17, 1894; Marsh creek, Point Breeze, 
Aug. 21, 1894. 

Genus chrosomus Kafinesque 

Body moderately elongate, little compressed; jaws normal; 
no barbel; teeth 5-5 or 4-5, moderately hooked, with well marked 
grinding surface; alimentary canal elongate, about twice as 
long as body; peritoneum black; scales very small; lateral line 
short or wanting; dorsal 'behind ventrals; anal basis short. 
Size small. Colors in spring brilliant, the pigment bright red. 
This genus is of somewhat doubtful relationship, and shows 
many analogies with the subgenus P h o x i n u s under Leu- 
c i s c u s . (After Jordan and Evermann) 

65 Chrosomus erythrogaster Bafinesque 
Red-belUed Dace 

huxilus erythrogaster Rafinesqtje, Ichth. Oliien. 47, 1820; Kirtland, Bost. 

Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, pi, II, fig. 2, male and female, 1844. 
Lenciscus erythrogaster Gtjntheb, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 247, 1868. 
Chrosomus erythrogaster Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. XIII, 391; Jordan &. 

Gilbert, Bull. 16. U. S. Nat. Mus. 153, 1883; Bean. Fishes Penna. 32. 

pi. 22, fig. 35, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

209, 1896. 

The red-bellied dace has a fusiform, moderately elongate and 
thick body, whose greatest hight is contained from four and 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 115 

one fifth to live times, and the least depth of its caudal peduncle 
eight and one half times, in the total length to the caudal base. 
The head is conical with pointed snout as long as the eye, 
which is about one fourth as long as the head. The head equals 
one fourth of total length to caudal base. The maxilla reaches 
nearly to below the front of the eye. The lateral line varies 
in development, sometimes reaching to above the origin of the 
ventrals and continued backward even farther at intervals, but 
usually not extending to ventrals. The dorsal origin is over 
the space between the ventral origin and the vent; about 39 
rows of scales between it and the nape. The dorsal base is 
one half as long as the head; the longest ray equals head with- 
out snout. The pectoral reaches nearly to ventral origin, and 
the ventral reaches vent. The anal base is two fifths as long 
as the head; the longest ray equal to longest of the dorsal. 
The caudal is moderately forked, its middle rays two thirds 
as long as the outer. D. 8; A. 7; Y. 8; P. 12. Scales 18-80 
to 85-10; teeth 5-5. Length of specimens described, from Yel- 
low creek, 3 inches. A narrow dusky line along the top of 
the back; two narrow, dark bands on the sides, the lower one 
passing forward on the head to tip of snout; the space between 
the bands and below bright silvery. Breeding males have the 
bases of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins and the area between 
the dark bands scarlet, while the body is covered with minute 
tubercles, and the fins generally are vivid yellow. 

The U. S. Fish Commission parties obtained this minnow at 
the following localities in the Lake Ontario region: Salt brook, 
1J miles above Nine Mile point, June 11, 1893; Cemetery creek, 
or Black river, Watertown, July 5, 1894; Long pond, Charlotte, 
Aug. 17, 1894. I am unable to find a reference to this species 
in the works of Mitchill and De Kay. 

The red-bellied minnow or dace is found from Pennsylvania 
to Dakota and Tennessee. It is abundant in small streams, 
and is a strikingly beautiful fish. Along the sides are two 
blackish bands; one beginning above the eye and extending to 
the tail; another traverses the eye and follows the lateral line 



116 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

to the base of the caudal, where it ends in a black spot. The 
belly and the space between the bands are bright silvery, re- 
placed by scarlet red in breeding males, which have the same 
color at the bases of the dorsal, caudal and anal fins. In the 
hight of the breeding season the fins are bright yellow, and 
the body is covered with small tubercles. According to Prof. 
Cope the red-bellied minnow is not found in the Delaware, but 
it occurs in the Susquehanna and is common in the streams 
of western Pennsylvania. It reaches a length of 3 inches, and 
is similar in its habits to the stone roller, with which it asso- 
ciates. It prefers clear streams, which have their origin in 
springs. As an aquarium fish this is scarcely excelled in beauty 
and hardiness, and as a bait for the black bass it has few 

superiors. 

Genus hybognathus Asrassiz 



Body elongate, somewhat compressed; mouth horizontal, the 
jaws normal, sharp edged; lower jaw with a slight, hard pro- 
tuberance in front; no barbel; upper jaw protractile; teeth 
4-4, cultriform, with oblique grinding surface and little if any 
hook; alimentary canal elongate, three to 10 times the length 
of the body; peritoneum black; scales large; lateral line con- 
tinuous; dorsal inserted before ventrals; anal basis short. 
Size moderate. Sexual changes very slight, no red or black 
pigment distinguishing the males in spring. Species numerous, 
mostly southwestern, not well known. • 

" |j 66 Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz 

Sttvery Minnow 

Hybognathus nuchalis Agassiz, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts. 224, 1855; Gunther, 
Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 184, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 156, 1893; Bean, Fishes Penna. 33, 1893; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 213, 1896. 

Hybognathus regius Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 209, 1856; Gunther, 
Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 185, 1868. 

Hybognathus osmerinus Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila. 466, 1870 (Raritan 
river, N. J.). 

Body moderately stout and short, its greatest depth equaling 

one fourth of the total length without the caudal, and the least 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 11.7 

depth of the caudal peduncle equaling nearly one half of the 
greatest depth of the body; body compressed, its greatest width 
less than one half its night. Head short, its upper and lower 
profiles tapering equally into the short and not very obtuse 
snout, which is as long as the eye, and three elevenths as long 
as the head. Mouth small, slightly oblique, the jaws nearly 
equal, or the lower slightly included, the maxilla without a 
barbel, and reaching to below the anterior nostril. The dorsal 
origin is over, and the ventral origin under, the 12th scale of 
the lateral line. The dorsal base is two thirds as long as the 
head; the longest dorsal ray equals the distance from the 
nostril to the end of the operculum, and the last ray is less than 
one half as long as the longest. The ventral does not reach 
to the vent; its length two thirds that of the head. The anal 
origin is under the 24th scale of the lateral line; the anal base 
is scarcely as long as the postorbital part of the head; the last 
anal ray is one third, and the longest anal ray two thirds, as 
long as the head. The pectoral is four fifths as long as the 
head, and reaches to below the 11th scale of the lateral line. 
The caudal is moderate in size and deeply forked, the middle rays 
less than one half as long as the external rays. D. ii, 7; A. ii, 
7; V. 8; P. 15. Scales 6—38 to 39—4; teeth 4—4 long, much com- 
pressed, and with a long oblique grinding surface. Intestines 
seven to 10 times as long as the body. The lateral line is 
gently decurved on about the first six scales, thence straight 
and median to the root of the caudal fin. Color in spirits light 
brown with a broad silvery band, the fins all pale. Olivaceous 
green above, translucent in life; sides silvery, with bright 
reflections; fins unspotted. Length 4 to 7 inches. 

The silvery minnow, or blunt jaw, is found in clear streams 
from New York to Georgia and Texas, west to the upper 
Missouri. In the Potomac river occurs a large variety which 
reaches a length of 7 inches. This variety has a larger eye and 
a deeper body than the western form. 

The U. S. Fish Commission collectors in the Lake Ontario 
region obtained specimens at the following localities: Salt 



118 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM' 

brook, 1J miles above Nine Mile point, June 11, 1893; Mill 
creek, Sacketts Harbor, July 2,1S94; Cemetery creek Watertown, 
July 5, 1894. The fish was most abundant at Mill creek. 

The fish spawns in the early spring. It is extensively used 
for food along with the Notropis hudsonius, the so 
called " smelt " or " gudgeon." It takes the hook very freely 
during the spawning season. 

Genus pimephalbs Rafinesque 

Body rather robust, little compressed; head short and 
rounded, mouth small, inferior; upper jaw protractile; no 
barbel; teeth 4-4, with oblique grinding surface, usually only 
one of the teeth hooked; dorsal over ventrals, its first (rudi- 
mentary) ray separated from the rest by membrane, not joined 
to them as usual in minnows, this character most distinct in 
adult males, in which the skin of the first ray is thickened; anal 
basis short; intestinal canal elongate; peritoneum black; 
pseudobranchiae present; scales rather small; lateral line com- 
plete or variously incomplete. Size small. Breeding males with 
much black pigment and with large warts on the head. (After 
Jordan and Evermann) 

67 Pimephales promelas Rafinesque 
Fathead; Blackhead Minnow 

Pimephales promelas Rafinesque, Ichth. Oliien. 53, 1820; Kirtland, Bost. 
Jour. Nat. Hist. Ill, 475, pi. 27, fig. 2, 1841; Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 166, 
1846; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 181, 1868; Jordan & Gil- 
bert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 158, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 35, 
1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 217, 1896. 

The fathead minnow has a short, deep and moderately thick 
body, and the head short with a very obtuse snout. The greatest 
depth of the body is equal to or slightly greater than length of 
head and is contained from three and two thirds to four and one 
fourth times in total length without caudal. The least depth of 
the caudal peduncle equals the length of postorbital part of the 
head. The head forms about one fourth of the total length to 
base of caudal; the width of the head equals two thirds of its 
length. The eye is as long as the snout and two ninths as long 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 119 

as the head. The mouth is very small, terminal, slightly oblique ; 
the maxilla not reaching vertical through hinder nostril. The 
dorsal origin is above, and the ventral origin below the 21st 
scale of the lateral line. The dorsal base is two thirds as long 
as the head; the first ray is about as long as the eye, and the 
longest as long as the head without the snout. The ventral 
reaches a little beyond the anal origin; its length equal to dorsal 
base. The anal base equals nearly one half the length of head, 
and the longest ray is as long as the dorsal base. The caudal 
is moderate and not deeply forked. The lateral line is con- 
tinuous on about 20 to 28 scales, and in one specimen continued 
with interruptions almost to the caudal base. D. i, 8; A. i, 7; V. 
8; P. 18. Scales 9-45 to 49-6; teeth 4-4. Length of specimens 
described, 3 inches. Color in spirits light brown, top and sides 
of head darker. A broad dark band on the base of the dorsal, 
most distinct anteriorly and sometimes absent behind. Males 
in spring are dusky, with black head and the snout and chin 
with numerous coarse tubercles. 

The fathead or blackhead is an inhabitant of the Ohio valley, 
and the Great lakes region west to Dakota and southwest to 
Texas. It is common in sluggish brooks, and instances have 
been known of its distribution by the action of cyclones. In 
Pennsylvania it is common in tributaries of the Ohio. 

The U. S. Fish Commission has obtained specimens from the 
following localities in the basin of Lake Ontario: Salt brook, 
1J miles above Nine Mile point, June 11, 1893; Mill creek, Sack- 
ett Harbor, July 2, 1894; Three Mile creek, Oswego, July 27, 
1894, where the greatest number of individuals was taken. Dv 
Meek says it is not very common in Cayuga lake, but is easily 
distinguished from the other minnows by its very long intes- 
tines. 

The fathead grows to a length of 2J inches. The sexes differ 
in color, the females being olivaceous, while the males are dusky 
and in the spring have the head black and the snout covered 
with numerous large, tubercles. The species has no value as 
food, but is an interesting one for the aquarium. Its food con- 
sists of mud and algae, and it seems to prefer a muddy bottom. 



120 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

68 PimephaJes notatus (Eafinesque) 
Blunt-nosed Minnow; Spotted Minnow 

Minnilus notatus Raeinesqtje, Ichth. Ohien. 47, 1820. 

Hyborhynchus notatus Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. XIII, 392, pi. 13, fig.. 5, 

1866 (the separate); Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 182, 1868; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 159, 1883. 
Pimephalcs notatus Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 22, 1885.; Bean, Fishes Penna. 

36, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus, 218, 1896. 

The blunt-nosed minnow has a moderately elongate body and 
a slender caudal peduncle. The head is somewhat conical with 
a short and blunt snout. The greatest depth of the body nearly 
equals length of head and is two ninths of the total length 
without caudal. The least depth of the caudal peduncle equals 
about one half of greatest depth of body. The snout is as long 
as the eye and one fourth as long as the head. The mouth is 
very small, inferior, nearly horizontal, the maxilla reaching to 
below the anterior nostril and provided with a short, thick, 
somewhat club-shaped barbel. The dorsal origin is slightly be- 
hind the ventral origin and over the 17th scale of the lateral 
line. The dorsal base is two thirds as long as the head, and 
about equal to the longest ray. The ventral origin is under the 
16th scale of the lateral line; the fin does not reach to the vent. 
The anal origin is under the 27th scale of the lateral line; the 
base of the anal is two fifths as long as the head, and the longest 
ray is equal to the postorbital part of the head. The caudal is 
moderately large and forked. The lateral line curves very 
slightly downward as far as the ventral origin and then follows 
straight along the median line; it is complete. D. i, 8; A. i, 7; 
V. 8; P. 15. Scales 6-42 to 45-5; teeth 4-4. Length of specimens 
described, 3 inches. Color in spirits light brown; the fins except 
the dorsal paler. A black spot about as large as the eye on 
the front of the dorsal. In life the sides are bluish. Breed- 
ing males have the black on the dorsal continued backward on 
the membrane covering the rays and the head black, while the 
snout has about 14 to 17 large, pointed tubercles. A dusky 
shade sometimes present at base of caudal. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 121 

The blunt-nosed minnow is a larger species than the fathead, 
reaching a length of 4 inches, and its range extends from Quebec 
to Delaware, west to Kansas and south to Mississippi. 

B. W. Evermann and B. A. Bean obtained it for the U. S. Fish 
Commission in the St Lawrence river, 3 miles below Ogdens- 
burg, July 17, 1894, in abundance. They found it common also 
at Scioto creek, Coopersville N. Y. July 19, 1894. In the Lake On- 
tario region the Fish Commission collected the species at Cape 
Vincent, Grenadier island, Sacketts Harbor, Pointbreeze, Hunt- 
ingtonville, Charlotte, Stony Island, Pultneyville, Chaumont, 
Henderson bay, and Salt brook. Livingston Stone obtained the 
fish at Cape Vincent in the St Lawrence river, and presented it to 
the state museum at Albany. It is found in large numbers in the 
southern end of Cayuga lake, and in streams on the flats. Not 
very abundant at the northern end of the lake and in streams 
near Ithaca, above the falls, according to the records of Dr Seth 
E. Meek. 

The blunt-nosed minnow differs from the fathead in its 
larger size and in having a complete lateral line, but the sexual 
differences are similar in the two species. The males in spring 
have the head black and the snout with many large tubercles. 
The species is extremely variable and changes greatly with age. 
It frequents small and muddy streams, and its food consists of 
decaying vegetable matter. 

Genus semotilus Rafinesque 

Body stout, moderately compressed and elongate; mouth ter- 
minal, wide, the upper jaw protractile; a small barbel just above 
the end of the maxillary; in most American minnows the barbel 
is at its tip; the maxillary barbel sometimes absent in young 
individuals; teeth 2, 5-4, 2, hooked, without grinding surface; 
scales rather large; lateral line complete; a short intestinal 
canal; dorsal placed behind ventrals; base of anal short. 
Vertebrae 22 + 20 = 42. Fishes of large size in clear, swift 
streams from Canada to Virginia, west to Missouri and 
Wyoming. 



122 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

) 

09 Semotilus bullaris (Raflnesque) 
FaMfishj Wind Fish; Dace; Chivm; Silver GJmb 

Cyiprinus bullaris Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. IT, 120, Dec. 1817. 
Cpprinus corporalis MiTpHiLL, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 324, Mar. 1818. 

Previous notice in same work, vol. I, 289, July, 1817, insufficient to 

hold name. The Corporaalen of the Dutch, moreover, was the striped 

species, atromaculatus. 
Semotilus bullaris Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 1, 1876; Jordan & Gilbert, 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 222, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 50, pi. 24, fig. 

41, 1803; Goode, Fish. & Fish. Ind. U. S. pi. 228, upper figure, 1884. 
Lcticiscus nitidus DeKay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 209, pi. 33, fig. 105, 1842, 

Lake Champlain. 
Lcucisous clirysopterm De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 211, pi. 30, fig. 95 

(poor), 1842, harbor of New York. 
Semotilus corporalis Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 221, 

1896. 

The fallfisli has a moderately deep, elongate and compressed 
body and a stont caudal peduncle. The greatest depth is one 
fourth of the total length without caudal, and the least depth 
of the peduncle equals three eighths of length of head. The 
head is rather large, one fourth of total without caudal, with 
pointed snout, which is two sevenths of the head's length. The 
mouth is oblique; the jaws nearly equal, the maxilla extending 
to below front of eye. The eye is placed high and is about one 
fourth as long as the head. The dorsal origin is over the 16th 
or 17th scale of the lateral line; the base of the fin is one half, 
and the longest ray two thirds as long as the head. The ventral 
origin is under the 15th scale of the lateral line; the fin does not 
reach to the vent, its length one seventh of total without caudal. 
The anal origin is under the 27th scale of the lateral line; the 
base of the fin is one third as long as the head, and the longest 
ray is as long as the ventral. The caudal is large and deeply 
forked. The lateral line curves downward abruptly over the 
pectoral, becoming median over the end of that fin. D. ii, 7; 
A. ii, 7; Y. 8; P. 18. Scales 7—46—5; teeth 2, 5—4, 2 or 2, 4— 
4, 2, all more or less strongly hooked. In spirits the upper parts 
are grayish brown, the sides and cheeks silvery, the lower parts 
whitish, the fins all pale. In life the upper parts are steel blue, 
the sides and belly silvery; breeding males in spring have the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 123 

belly and lower fins rosy. The specimens described, no. 9202, 
17. S. National Museum, are from 5J to 6{ inches long. 

The fallfish or dace is one of the largest of the minnow family 
in New York, reaching a length of 18 inches, and it is one of the 
most beautiful species as well as game in its qualities. As a 
food fish, however, this is not greatly esteemed. It is extremely 
common in the Delaware river and its tributaries and moder- 
ately abundant in the Susquehanna. The fallfish is found from 
Quebec to Virginia. Mitchill had it from the Wallkill river and 
knew of its occurrence in the Hudson, near Albany. Kafinesque 
recorded it from the Fishkill and other tributaries of the Hud- 
son. De ~Kaj knew it from Lake Champlain and from New York 
harbor. Evermann and Bean collected it in Scioto creek, at 
Coopersville, and in Saranac river, at Plattsburg, in July 1891; 
also in Racquette river, at Norfolk, and the St Lawrence river, 3 
miles below Ogdensburg, in the same month. 

In the Lake Ontario basin the U. S. Fish Commission parties 
found it at Sacket Harbor, Centerville, Watertown, Oswego. 
Webster, Charlotte, Belleville, Henderson bay, Henderson Har- 
bor, and Salt brook, near Nine Mile point. 

The fallfish delights in rapid, rocky portions of large streams 
and in the deep channels. On being hooked, it fights desper- 
ately for a short time, but its resistance is soon overcome. 
Thoreau describes it as a soft fish with a taste like brown paper 
salted, yet the boy fishermen will continue to covet and admire 
this handsome and ubiquitous representative of the minnow 
family. A colored plate of the fish, natural size, appears in the 
3d Annual Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and 
Forest of the State of New York, 1898, facing p. 116. There is 
also a good account of the fish by A. N. Cheney on p. 214 and 
245 of the same report. 

70 Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill) 
Horned Dace; Chub 

Cyprinus atromaculatus Mitchill. Arner. Month. Mag. II, 324, Mar. 1818. 

Wallkill river. 
Leuciscus atromaculatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 210, pi. 32, fig. 102, 

1842. 



124 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Semotilus coi-paralis Cope, Jour. Am. Phil. Soc. XIII, 362, pi. 10, fig. 2, 
(the separate), 1866; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 221, 
1883; Goode, Fish. & Fish. Ind. U. S. pi. 228, lower figure, 1884. 

Leucosomvs corporalis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 269, 1868. 

Semotilus atromaculatus Bicknell & Dresslar, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sei. Phila. 
16, 1885; Bean, Fishes Penna. 51, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 
47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 222, 1896; pi. XL, fig. 100, 1900. 

The chub has a slender and moderately elongate body, its 
greatest hight immediately in front of the ventrals, about equal 
to the length of the head without the snout and contained from 
four to nearly five times in the total length without the caudal. 
The greatest thickness of the body is about two thirds of its 
greatest hight. The head is thicker than the body and rather 
short with an obtuse and moderately declivous snout, whose 
length is about two sevenths of that of the head and consider- 
ably greater than the diameter of the eye. The eye is rather 
small, placed high, its diameter nearly one fifth of the length of 
the head and scarcely more than one half of the space between 
the eyes. The mouth is moderate, very slightly oblique, the 
jaws subequal or the lower slightly included; the end of the 
maxilla reaches very slightly past the vertical through the front 
of the eye. Maxillary barbel not evident in this example, 
though usually present in large individuals. The lateral line is 
abruptly bent downward over the first half of the pectoral, 
straight and nearly median during the rest of its course. The 
origin of the dorsal is over the 27th scale of the lateral line, 
and the ventral origin is under the 24th scale. The length of 
the dorsal base equals the combined length of the eye and snout. 
The first divided ray is the longest; its length two thirds that 
of the head. The last ray is one half as long us the longest. 
The ventral does not reach to the vent; its length scarcely 
greater than the postorbital part of the head. The anal origin 
is under the 37th scale of the lateral line; the length of the anal 
base is a little more than one third that of the head, and the 
longest anal ray equals the postorbital part of the head. The 
tail is rather slender, the least depth of the caudal peduncle 
equaling one half the greatest depth and the distance of the 
anal from the origin of the middle caudal rays nearly equal to 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 125 

the length of the head. The pectoral when extended reaches 
to below the 16th scale of the lateral line. The caudal is mod- 
erate in size and not very deeply forked, its middle rays being 
about two thirds as long as the external rays. D. ii, 7; A. iii, 8; 
V. 8; P. 15. Scales 9—58—6. Teeth of right side 2 + 5; of left side 
2 + 4. Those of the left side strongly and those of the right 
side less strongly hooked. Teeth of the upper row with a well 
developed grinding surface. 

The length of the specimen described, no. 21661, U. S. National 
Museum, from the Susquehanna river at Bainbridge Pa., is Cl- 
inches. 

The color is bluish brown above; sides with a distinct dusky 
band, not so wide as the eye and becoming obsolete in the adult. 
Young specimens have the end of this band more pronounced, 
forming a black spot at the base of the caudal. A small black 
spot always present on the front of the base of the dorsal, its 
size in the specimen described being about two thirds of that 
of the eye. In life the belly is whitish. Breeding males have 
the belly rose tinted and the black dorsal spot bordered with 
red; they have, also, rather large tubercles on the snout. 

The common chub, creek chub, smaller fallnsh or horned dace 
has a wider distribution than S. bullaris, but it does not 
grow quite so large, seldom exceeding 1 foot in length. Its 
range extends from New England to Missouri, southward to 
Georgia and Alabama. It is extremely common and ascends 
the small streams. 

The U. S. Fish Commission collectors in 1894 took numerous 
specimens at the following localities: Sacketts Harbor, July 2; 
Centerville, July 24; Watertown, July 5; Oswego, July 25; 
Webster, Aug. 9; Charlotte, Aug. 17; Belleville, July 12; Hen- 
derson bay, July 4; Henderson Harbor, July 3, and Salt brook, 
1| miles above Nine Mile point, June 10 and 11, 1893. 

Dr Meek reported it as abundant throughout the Cayuga lake 
basin. Large examples are found in Canandaigua lake. One of 
them measured 14 inches in July 1897. The fish is killed by 



126 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

warm water. The food iu captivity includes hard clam, earth- 
worms, and, occasionally, live killifish. 

A. N. Cheney refers to this species on page 245 of the 3d 
Annual tie pott of the Commissioners of Fisheries, Game and Forest 
of the State of New York. 

In Pennsylvania it is the commonest minnow in the Allegheny 
and Susquehanna basins and is sufficiently common in the Dela- 
ware. According to Prof. Cope it reaches 4 pounds in w T eight 
and is a fair food fish. 

This species is more characteristic of the small streams and 
clear ponds and it takes the hook very freely; but its proper 
mission is to serve as bait for the larger and choicer fishes. 

Genus tinca Cuvier 

Pseudobranchiae minute ; mouth anterior ; lips thick but desti- 
tute of any horny covering; barbels two, one at either angle of 
the mouth; pharyngeal teeth in one row, 4 or 5-5 or 4, cuneiform, 
with a slightly hooked extremity; gill rakers short and lanceo- 
late; dorsal fin rather short, commencing slightly behind the 
origin of the ventral; anal short; caudal slightly emarginate; 
scales small, embedded in a thick skin and covered with mucus. 
Lateral line complete. (After Day) 

71 Tinca tinca (Linnaeus) 
Tench (Introduced) 

Cyprinus tinea Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 321, 1758; Lace'pede, Hist. 

Nat. Poiss. V, 491, 533, 1800. 
Tinca vulgaris Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVI, 322, pi. 

484, 1842; Heckel & Knee, Stissw. Fische, 75, fig. 34, 1858; Gunther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 264, 1868. 
Tinca tinca Jordan & Evermann, Check List Fishes N. A. 512, 1896. 

B. 3; D. 12 to 13 (8 or 9 developed); P. 17; V. 9-10; A. 9-10. 
Scales 30 to 31 — 90 to 115. Length of head four and one third 
to four and three fourths; hight of body three and three fourths 
to four and one fourth in the total length including caudal. Eye 
six and one half to seven and one half in length of head; two 
and one fourth in length of snout; two to two and one fourth in 
distance between eyes. Interorbital space flat. The thickness 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 127 

of the head equals its length exclusive of the snout. Snout 
obtuse; mouth anterior, jaws anteriorly of the same length, gape 
wide, cleft rather shallow; the maxilla reaches to beneath the 
posterior nostril; lips thick. Dorsal origin over the end of the 
ventral base, and the fin extends almost to above the anal 
origin; all the fins rounded. In the males the first or even more 
of the ventral rays are thicker than in the female. Lateral line 
gradually descending to about the middle of the length, thence 
proceeding straight to the base of caudal. Leaden or greenish, 
lightest beneath; fins blackish. 

The tench has been introduced into the United States. An 
individual taken in the Potomac river near Washington D. C. 
has a grinding surface well developed on the pharyngeal teeth, 
a character concerning which no mention is made in the current 
descriptions. 

The tench now extends throughout the fresh waters of Europe 
into those of Asia Minor. Its northern limit is said to be in 
Finland. It may or may not be native to England. The species 
prefers still waters in which aquatic plants abound. It is very 
tenacious of life and has been observed to live a whole day out 
of water. Its food consists of insects, larvae, worms, and vege- 
table substances. 

Spawning takes place in June and July. The eggs are small 
and adhesive. The rate of growth is rather rapid under favor- 
able circumstances, the young having attained to a weight of 

I pound in their first year. Individuals of the weight of 10 or 

II pounds are recorded, and Salvianus mentioned a tench of 
20 pounds. As for the quality of its flesh, opinions differ, some 
persons considering it unpalatable, while others regard it as 
delicious and wholesome. 

Genus leuciscus Cuvier 

Body oblong, compressed or robust, covered with moderate or 
small scales; lateral line decurved, complete, or variously im- 
perfect; mouth usually large and terminal, the lips normal, with- 
out barbel; teeth mostly 2, 5-4, 2 (in American species some 



128 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

times 1, 5-4, 2, or even by atrophy, 1, 4-4, 1) usually 2, 5-5, 2 in 
the European type, hooked, with rather narrow grinding sur- 
face or none; anal basis short or more or less elongate; dorsal 
fin posterior, usually behind ventrals; intestinal canal short. 
Size generally large, some species very small. A very large 
group, one of the largest current genera in ichthyology, repre- 
sented by numerous species in the rivers of Europe, Asia, and 
North America. . . Individual irregularities in dentition are 
common in this genus. 

The typical species of the genus, Leuciscus leuciscus, 
is the common dace or vandoise of Europe, and differs greatly 
from any of the American forms. The presence of various inter- 
mediate species, however, makes it impossible to draw any satis- 
factory line between the dace, Leuciscus, on the one hand, 
and such extreme forms as the long-mouthed minnows, 
1 i n o s t o m u s , on the other. 

Clinostomus is a peculiar group of small, fine-scaled 
minnows, with the gape of the mouth larger than in any other 
Oyprinidae whatever. The relationship of the species to 
those called R i c h a r d s o n i u s is however very close. (After 
Jordan and Evermann) 

Subgenus clinostomus Girard 

72 Leuciscus elongatus (Kirtland) 

Red-sided Shiner 

Luxilus elongatus Kirkland, Rep't Zool. Ohio, 169, 1836; Bost. Jour. Nat. 

Hist. Ill, 339, pi. IV, fig. 1, 1841. 
Leuciscus prorigtr Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 245, 1868. 
Squalius elongatus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 232, 1883. 
Phoxinus elongatus Bean, Fishes Penna. 52, 1893. 
Leuciscus elongatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 214, 1842; Storer, Syn. 

Fish. N. A. 161, 1846; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 245, 1868; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 240, 1806. 

The red-sided shiner has an elongate fusiform body, its great- 
est depth two ninths of the total length without the caudal, its 
greatest width nearly one half of its depth. The caudal ped- 
uncle is long and slender, its least depth two fifths of greatest 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 129 

depth of body. The head is large, two sevenths of total length 
without the caudal, with long pointed snout and wide mouth. 
The snout is as long as the eye and two sevenths as long as the 
head. The width of the interorbital space is about equal to the 
diameter of the eye. The lower jaw projects strongly. The 
maxilla reaches to below the' middle of the eye. The gill open- 
ings are wide, the membranes separated by a very narrow 
isthmus. The dorsal origin is over the 25th scale of the lateral 
line; the base of the fin is two fifths as long as the head; the 
longest ray is as long as the head without the snout; the last 
ray is about half as long as the longest. The ventral origin is 
under the 23d scale of the lateral line; the fin extends to the 
vent, equaling length of eye and snout combined. The anal 
origin is under the 37th scale of the lateral line; the anal base 
is two fifths as long as the head; the longest ray twice as long 
as the last ray and one fourth of its distance from the tip of 
the snout. The caudal is large and deeply forked. The pectoral 
is two thirds as long as the head, extending to below the 17th 
scale of the lateral line. The lateral line is abruptly decurved 
over the anterior half of the pectoral. D. iii, 7; A. iii, 7; V. 8; 
P.14. Scales 12-63-7 (sometimes 10-70-5); teeth 2, 5-5, 2, hooked, 
some of them with a narrow grinding surface. In spirits the 
color is dark brown; a narrow dark stripe along the middle of 
the side extending on the head and around the snout; the fins 
are pale. In life the back is dark bluish, the belly silvery; breed- 
ing males have the first half of the lateral stripe crimson and 
the belly and lower fins rosy. The specimen described, number 
8167, U. S. National Museum, from Meadville, Pa., is 3 inches 
long. 

The red-sided shiner is found from Pennsylvania to Minne- 
sota; abundant in clear streams of the Great lakes region and 
the upper Mississippi valley. In the Lake Ontario basin the 
U. S. Fish Commission collectors obtained it in the following 
localities in 1894: Spring brook, Pulaski, July 24; Wart creek, 
July 24 ; Three Mile creek, Oswego, July 27, 



L30 m:\v iork state museum 

Subgenus phoxinus Rafinesque 

73 Leuciscus margarita (Cope) 

Pearl Minnoiv 

Glinostomus margarita Cope, Cypr. Penn. 377, pi. 13, fig. 1, 1866. 
Squalius margaritus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 235, 

1883. 
Pho,rinus mafgaritus Bean, Fishes Penna. 53, 1893." 
Leuciscus margarita Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 246, 1868; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 241, 1896. 

Muzzle obtuse, mouth oblique, scarcely attaining the line of 
the anterior margin of the orbit; head four times in body to 
base of caudal fin, equal to greatest depth; eye three fourths its 
diameter from end of muzzle, and equal to postero-inferior mar- 
gin of operculum. Scales less exposed on anterior than on 
posterior regions: 11-58-8 to 9. The lateral line is discon- 
tinued 5 to 8 scales anterior to the caudal fin. Pharyngeal teeth 
slender, 2, 5-4, 2. Dorsal originating behind origin of ven- 
trals, i, 8; A. I, 8; V. 8, extending three fourths from its origin 
to the anus; P. 17, reaching two thirds way to ventrals. 

I.ines- 

From origin of caudal to first dorsal ray 12 

From first dorsal ray to hind margin of orbit 9.5 

From first dorsal ray to end of muzzle 13.5 

From first anal ray to caudal base 8 

From end of muzzle to base of yentrals 12 

Total length, 2 inches 6 lines. 

Coloration above light olive, without dorsal line, but darker 
shade at origin of dorsal fin with a minute slaty dusting and a 
few lateral speckles of the same. Sides to halfway above the 
lateral line and opercula plumbeous silvery; below bright crim- 
son (in midsummer) to lower margins of pectoral and ventral 
fins; median line below straw-colored. Muzzle blackish; fins un- 
spotted. (After Cope) „ 

The pearl minnow was supposed to be limited to the Susque- 
hanna river and its tributaries, but it is now known southward 
to the James and the head waters of the Kanawha, and has 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 131 

been reported, somewhat doubtfully, from Cemetery creek, at 

Watertown N. Y. by Dr Evermann. 

It is a stout-bodied little species, growing to a length of 3 

inches. 

Genus idus Heckel 

Pharyngeal teeth in two series, 3, 5-5, 3, four of those in the 
principal row laterally compressed and hooked at the tips; lat- 
eral line complete; eyes small. Scales small; dorsal and anal fins 
short, without thickened anterior rays; mouth small, terminal, 

oblique. 

74 Idus idus (Linnaeus) 

Golden Ide (Introduced) 

Cyprinus idus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 324, 1758. 

Leuciscus idus Ctjvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVII, 228, 1844; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 229, 1868. 
Idus meianotus Heckel & Knee, Siissw. Fische, 147, figs. 77, 78, 1858. 
Idus idus Jordan & Evermann, Check List Fishes N. A. 512, 1896. 

Body moderately elongated and compressed; least hight of 
caudal peduncle two fifths of greatest depth of body, which is 
two sevenths of total length without caudal; length of head 
one fourth of total length without caudal ;^ye large, four times 
in head and twice in interorbital distance, about as long as the 
snout; mouth small; jaws equal in length, the maxillary reach- 
ing to below the posterior nostril; pharyngeal teeth 5, 3-3, 5, 
hooked, not serrated; dorsal outline almost regularly arched, 
similar to ventral outline, top of head slightly flattened; dorsal 
origin at, or somewhat behind, the middle of the length, directly 
over the origin of the ventral, its hight nearly equal to length of 
head; ventrals in advance of dorsal, and extending to the vent; 
pectorals short, not reaching to ventrals; caudal deeply forked, 
its lobes equal; lateral line decurved, its second half well below 
the median line. Vertebrae 26 + 21 = 47. Reaches a length of 
18 or 20 inches and the weight of 6 pounds. D. 11-12; A. 
13-14; V. 10. Scales 9 or 10-56 to 59-7, four and one half 
series between the lateral line and ventral fin. 

A variety known as the golden ide, orfe, or gold nerfling has 
been introduced, for ornamental purposes, into American ponds* 



132 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The back and sides are vermilion or orange red; belly silvery; 
a broad indistinct band of violet tint runs longitudinally to the 
tail, and divides the deep red of the back from the pale tint 
of the lower parts; all fins red at base and pale at tips; iris 
golden red, with a black pupil. 

Genus abramis Ouvier 
Subgenus notemigonus Rafinesque 

Body subelliptic, strongly compressed, both back and belly 
curved; back narrowly compressed, almost carinated; belly be- 
hind ventral fins forming a keel over which the scales do not 
pass. Head small, conic; mouth small, oblique or horizontal, 
without barbels; scales rather large; lateral line continuous, 
strongly decurved; dorsal fin inserted behind the ventrals; anal 
fin with its base more or less elongate; teeth 5-5, hooked, with 
grinding surface, the edges more or less crenate or serrate; 
alimentary canal short, though rather longer than the body; 
size rather large. 

Several species, one of them in coastwise fresh waters from 
Nova Scotia to Maryland, west to Dakota; another in rivers of 
the South Atlantic'states and south to Texas. A peculiar form 
in Central park, New York city. 

75 Abramis crysoleucas (Mitchill) 
Roach; Golden Shiner 

Cyprinus crysoleucas Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 23, 1814. 

Cyprinus hermplus Rafinesque, Ainer. Month. Mag. II, 121, Dec. 1817. 

Lake George, Lake Saratoga. 
Abramis versicolor De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 191, pi. 32, fig. 103, 1842. 
Stilbe chrysoleucas De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 204, pi. 29, fig. 91, 1842. 
Abramis americanus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 305, 1868. 
Notemigonus chrysoleucas Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

250, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 53, pi. 24, fig. 42, 1803. 
Abramis crysoleucas Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 250, 

1896, pi. XLV, fig. Ill, 1900. 

The body of the roach is compressed, the back elevated and 
the head depressed and very small. The depth of the body is 
one third of the total length without the caudal; the head is con- 
tained four and two third times in this length. The eye is 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



133 



contained three and one half times in the length of the head. 
The mouth is small, oblique, the maxillary not reaching to ver- 
tical through front of eye. The dorsal fin is much higher than 
long; its base is equal to the least depth of the caudal peduncle 
or twice the diameter of the eye, situated on middle of body 
opposite the space between the ventral and anal fins. Anal 
longer than dorsal, its longest ray slightly exceeding the length 
of the base. Caudal forked. Lateral line much decurved on 
lower half of body behind pectorals. D. 8; A. 13. Scales 
10-53-3. Teeth 5-5, hooked and with grinding surface. 

The roach, shiner, golden shiner or bream is one of the com- 
monest fishes of the eastern states. It is found from New 
England to Minnesota and southward. A variety of the roach 
replaces the common northern form from North Carolina to 
Texas. 

Evermann and Bean obtained it at Rouse Point N. Y. and in 
Scioto creek, Coopersville N. Y. July 19, 1894. In the Lake 
Ontario basin, the U. S. Fish Commission has it from: 

Salt brook, 1J miles above Nine Mile point June 11, 1893 

€ape Vincent June 21, 1894 

Orenadier island June 27, 1894 

Black river, Huntingtonville July 5, 1894 

Ouffon creek, Chaumont July 7, 1894 

Chaumont river July 10, 1894 

Black creek, Scriba Corners July 17, 1894 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk July 25, 1894 

Dr Meek secured it in sluggish water on the flats near Ithaca. 

The roach is abundant in the lakes of Central park and in the 
Bronx; it was not found in the large lake of Prospect park, 
Brooklyn. 

Eugene Smith records its occurrence in the vicinity of New 
York associated with the common sunfish, killies, and catfish. 

The roach grows to a length of 1 foot and a weight of 1| 
pounds. It frequents sluggish waters, abounding in bayous and 
w r eedy ponds, as well as in tidal waters. According to Jordan, 



134 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

its favorite shelter is the yellow pond lily. It may be readily- 
distinguished by its shape, which resembles that of the shad,, 
and by the very long anal fin, which contains from 14 to 17 rays. 
The colors of this fish are greenish above and the sides silvery 
with golden reflections. Fins usually yellowish; lower fins scar- 
let in breeding males. 

Though the roach is not a good food fish, it is taken by the- 
hook in large numbers and is a very useful species for bait. 

The roach, writes Eugene Smith, is an active fish and lives- 
well in the aquarium, becoming very familiar with its keeper. 
Owing to the small size of its gullet, the smaller individuals 
will at length starve unless their food is much comminuted. 
The fish spawned in captivity in May, and early in December of 
the same year the young were 1J inches long. The adults do not 
like earthworms, but feed freely on chopped hard clams. 

76 Abramis chrysoleucas roseus suosp. nov. 
Irish Roach; Pearl Roach 

Abramis crysoleucas subspecies, Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. N. Y. 
IX, 334, 1897. 

The "Irish roach" or "pearl roach" of a lake in Central 
park, New York city, is even more distinct from the typical 
northern roach than is the subspecies b o s c i of the rivers of 
1he South Atlantic states, and should receive a name. This 
form is readily distinguished from A. crysoleucas by its 
short and deep body, uniform size of scales on all parts of the 
body, and the permanent vermilion color of the pectoral, ventral,, 
and anal fins. An example studied in the New York aquarium 
has D. i, 7; A. i, 12; V. i. 8, scales 10-48-4; teeth 5-5, hooked^ 
crenate, and with a grinding surface. The lateral line appar- 
ently is not so strongly decurved as in A. crysoleucas. 

This is a beautiful fish and extremely shy in captivity. Two 
females and a male were ready to spawn in the aquarium* 
about the end of June 1896. The females cast their eggs, but 
they were immediately eaten by the fish. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 135 

Genus notropis Rafinesque 

^Body oblong or elongate, m~re or less compressed; mouth nor- 
mal, mostly terminal and oblique, sometimes subinferior; no 
barbels; teeth in one or two rows, those of the larger row 
^always 4-4, hooked, sharp edged, or with a narrow grinding 
surface; scales large, often closely imbricated, those before the 
dorsal rarely very small; lateral line complete or nearly so, 
usually decurved; dorsal fin inserted above, or more usually 
behind, the ventrals; anal fin short or moderately long; abdomen 
rounded, never sharp edged. Coloration more or less silvery, 
often brilliant, the males in spring usually with red or white 
pigment and the head with small tubercles. A very large group 
of small fishes, specially characteristic of the fresh waters of 
the eastern United States, containing about 100 species, many 
of them characterized by extensive individual variations. (After 
Jordan and Evermann) 

77 Notropis bifrenatus (Cope) 

Bridled Minnow 

Sybopsis bifrenatus Cope, Cypr. Penna. 384, 1866; Gunther, Cat. Fish. 

Brit Mus. VII, 211, 1868 (as a doubtful species). 
Hemitremia bifrenata Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 162, 

1883. 
Notropis bifrenatus Jordan, Check List Fishes N. A. 22, 1885; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 258, 1896. 

Front convex between the orbits; length of muzzle equals 
■diameter of iris band and pupil, sometimes nearly equals orbit. 
Iris colored in continuation of the lateral band. The lateral line 
rarely extends half way to the dorsal fin, while the pores of the 
same may be observed at the bases of the scales for half the 
remaining length of the animal. Length of the largest speci- 
men, 19 lines; breadth of muzzle at nares, 1.5 lines. Radii of 
the scales strong. 

Color above straw, the scales delicately brown edged; below 
impure white, with a narrow black line along base of anal fin 
to caudal. Along each side from caudal fin around the end of 
muzzle including the end of the mandible, a shining black band 



136 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

one and one half scales in width. This is bordered above on the 
muzzle, forming an arc from orbit to orbit, by an orange band r 
which is strongly margined above by the brown of the top of the 
front. Opercular and suborbital regions below the black band, 
pure silvery. (Eearranged from Cope) 

Head four and one fifth; depth four and one fifth; eye three. 
D. 8; A. 7. Scales 5-36-3; teeth 4-4. Body rather slender, 
the caudal peduncle somewhat contracted; head moderate, the 
muzzle very obtuse; mouth oblique, the jaws about equal, upper 
lip opposite lower part of pupil; eye large, longer than snout; 
lateral line developed for a very short distance. 13 scales 
before dorsal. Length 1J to 2 inches. s 

This little minnow has no common name. It is found from 
Massachusetts to Maryland and is abundant in tributaries of the 
Delaware river. On account of its conspicuous colors, it is a 
useful bait for game fishes, specially the black bass. 

78 Notropis anogenus Forbes 

Notropis anogenus Forbes, Bull. 111. Lab. Nat. Hist. 138, 1885; Meek, Ann. 
N. Y. Acad. Sci. IV, 304, 1888, Canal near Montezuma, N. Y.; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 259, 1896. 

Head four and one fourth; depth four and two fifths; eye three 
and one fourth. D. 8; A. 7. Lateral line 34 to 37, 13 before dor- 
sal. Teeth 4-4. Very similar to N. heterodon, but with 
the lateral line usually complete; the mouth very small and very 
oblique, almost wholly anterior; the lower jaw included, the- 
upper lip above level of pupil; snout very short, blunt, shorter 
than eye. Dusky; a dusky lateral band through eye, ending in 
a faint black spot at base of caudal; a black speck above each 
pore of lateral line; chin black. Length 1J inches. Western 
New York (Cayuga lake, Meek) to northern Illinois; rather 
scarce. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

According to Meek the species is quite common in the canal 
near Montezuma N. Y. It is the smallest of all the Cayuga 
lake fishes. 

79 Notropis cayuga Meek 

Notropis cayuga Meek, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. IV, 305, 1888, Cayuga Lake,. 
N. Y.; Jordan, Bull. U. S. F. C. IX, 17, 1891; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 260, 1896. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 137 

Head four and one sixth; depth four and one half; eye three 
and one half. Scales 36; before dorsal 14. Teeth 4-4. Allied 
to N. h e t e r o d o n, from which it may be best known by the 
absence of black on the chin. Lateral line wanting on some 
scales; mouth very small, anterior, the maxillary not reaching 
the eye; jaws subequal; eye large, equal to snout. Scales above 
dark edged, the outlines very sharply denned; chin not black; a 
black stripe through snout and eye, a dusky lateral shade and a 
small caudal spot. Length 2J inches. Cayuga lake and north- 
ern New York, westward to Assiniboia, South Dakota, Ne- 
braska, Kansas and Arkansas. Not rare, but hitherto usually 
confounded with N. heterodon. (After Jordan and Ever- 
mann) 

Several examples were taken by Dr Meek near Ithaca. The 
longest was 2| inches. He also obtained it from the canal 
near Montezuma N. Y. 

The U. S. Fish Commission parties secured this minnow in 
many localities in 1894. 

Mouth of Little Salmon creek July 25 

Chaumont river July 10 

Black creek, tributary of Oswego river July 17 

Three Mile creek, Oswego July 27 

Great Sodus bay Aug. 6 

Guffon creek, Chaumont July 7 

Four Mile creek, Nine Mile point, Webster Aug. 9 

Cemetery creek, Watertown July 5 

Mud creek, Cape Vincent June 25 

Mill creek, Sacketts Harbor July 2 

80 Notropis heterodon (Cope) 

Alburnops heterodon Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 281, 1864. 

Hybopsis heterodon Cope, Cypr. Penna. 382, 1866. 

Leuciscus heterodon Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 261, 1868. 

Eemitremia heterodon Joedan, Man. Vert. 303, 1878; Joed an & Gilbeet, 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 163, 1883. 
Notropis heterodon Joedan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 22, 1885; Joedan & Eveemann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 261, 1896. 

Head four ; depth four ; eye three in head. D. 8 ; A. 8. Scales 
5-36-3, the lateral line extending about half the length of 



\ 

L38 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

body; teeth 4-4, often crenate. Body moderately stout, the 
back somewhat elevated; head rather pointed, the muzzle 
acuminate; mouth oblique, lower jaw projecting, upper lip oppo- 
site upper rim of pupil; maxillary extending to opposite front 
of orbit; 13 scales in front of dorsal; lateral line usually more 
or less imperfect. Color olivaceous; chin black; a blackish 
rostral band; sides with a leaden or dusky band. Length 2J 
inches. New York to Michigan and Kansas, common. Va- 
riable. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

Common in all the sluggish water on the flats near Ithaca. 
Not found at the north end of the lake, where it seems to be re- 
placed by Notropis anogenus. Meek 

The U. S. Fish Commission collectors have obtained it at Cape 
Vincent N. Y. June 21, Stony Island, July 2 and 3, and at Guffon 
creek, Chaumont, July 7, 1894. 

81 Notropis blennius (Girard) 
Straw-colored Minnow 

Alburnops blennius Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 194, 1856. Pacific 

R. R. Surv. X, 261, pi. 57, figs. 13-16, 1858. 
Minnilus Uennius Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 193, 1883. 
Notropis blennius Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 24, 1885; Jordan & Evermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 261, 1896. 

Body slender, elongate, its greatest depth one fifth of total 
length without caudal; head rather large, one fourth of total 
length without caudal ; the eye large, a little longer than snout, 
one third as long as the head; mouth small, inferior, horizontal, 
the maxilla reaching to front of orbit; snout very obtuse; dorsal 
a little nearer to tip of snout than to base of caudal, its origin 
about over end of pectoral, its longest ray three fourths as 
long as the head; teeth 4-4; 13 to 15 rows of scales before 
dorsal. The ventral is under the base of the dorsal, its length 
equal to length of head without snout. D. 8 to 9; A. 7 to 8. 
Scales 5 to 6-32 to 38-4. 

Color pale olivaceous; sides usually pale; usually a darker 
dorsal band and a small dark blotch before dorsal, sometimes a 
plumbeous lateral stripe but no caudal spot; fins all plain. 
Length 2 to 2\ inches. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 139 

This small minnow is found in the Great lakes region, west- 
ward to Dakota and south to Texas. The U. S. Fish Commission 
collectors secured a moderate number of specimens in 1894 at 
the following localities. 

€ape Vincent June 23 

Grenadier island June 27 

Little Stony brook, Henderson bay July 4 

Big Sandy creek, Belleville July 12 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk July 25 

Oreat Sodus bay Aug. 6 

Dr B. W. Evermann and Barton A. Bean secured 12 examples 
in Scioto creek, Coopersville N. Y. July 19, 1894. They also 
took many specimens July 17 in the St Lawrence river, 3 miles 
faelow Ogdensburg N. Y. Dr Evermann observed a diffuse plum- 
beous band along the side, each scale in the lateral line punctate 
with black, making the lateral line very conspicuous. In many 
a very small black spot was present at base of caudal. The 
dorsal was very low, only five ninths length of head. 

82 Notropis procne (Cope) 
Shiner 

Eyoognathus procne Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 279, 283, 1864. 
Hybopsis procne Cope, Cypr. Penna. 385, pi. XI, fig. 2, 1866. 
Leuciscus procne Genthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 260, 1868. 
Cliola procne Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 169, 1883. 
Not?'opis procne Joedan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 23, 1885; Bean, Fishes Penna. 
37, 1893; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 264, 1896. 

This little minnow has a short, slender and compressed body 
and a very slender caudal peduncle. The greatest depth, at the 
dorsal origin equals the length of the head, which is about one 
fourth of the total without caudal. In some described speci- 
mens the head is contained four and three fourths times and 
the depth of the body five and one fourth times in total length 
without caudal. The snout is short and obtuse, shorter than 
the eye, which is two fifths as long as the head. The mouth is 
terminal and small, the maxilla not reaching to front of eye, 
and the jaws equal. The lateral line is gently curved down- 



140 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

ward over the pectoral and, in the specimen examined, becomes 
interrupted in its posterior half. The dorsal origin is over the 
12th scale of the lateral line and nearly over the ventral origin. 
The dorsal base is a little more than half as long as the head, 
and the longest ray is as long as the head. The ventral reaches 
to the anal origin. The anal base is half as long as the head 
and the longest anal ray is four fifths as long as the head. The 
caudal is moderately forked. I). 8; A. 7; V. 8; P. 13. Scales 
5-32 to 34-3; teeth 4-4. Length of specimen described, from 
Havre de Grace Md., 2£ inches. Color in spirits light brown,, 
the belly pale and lower half of head silvery. A narrow dark 
line along the top of the back and a narrow dark median band 
continued forward on the nose. Fins all pale. In life the body 
is olivaceous with a dark lateral stripe. The long tail suggests 
the name p r o c n e , a kind of swallow. 

The shiner is found from western New York to Maryland. 
Prof. Cope found it abundant in the tributaries of the Delaware 
and Susquehanna, in slow moving streams. It reaches the 
length of 2J inches. 

Eugene Smith records it as " very plentiful in the small 
brooks directly running into tide water. It appears to approach 
the sea more closely than any other minnow, though it is never 
found in brackish water. It delights in strong currents, but 
in captivity lives well in the aquarium, feeding voraciously. It 
is almost entirely carnivorous. The Palisade ridge is probably 
the furthest limit of this species towards the east. It is met 
with in company of the suckers and the roach." 

It has proved an excellent bait for the game fishes. 

83 Notropis hudsonius (DeWitt Clinton) 
Spwum-eater; Smelt 

Clupea hudsonia De Witt Clinton, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. I, 49, pi. 

2, fig. 2, 1824 (fide Giintnier). 
Leuciscus hvdsonius De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 206, pi. 34, fig. 109, 1842. 

(Hudson river and tributaries) 
Hybopsis hudsonius Cope, Cypr. Penna. 386, pi. 12, fig. 3, 1866. 
Cliola hudsonia Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 171, 1883. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 141 

Notropis hudsonius Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 24, 1885; Bean, Fishes Penna. 
38, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 269, 1896, pi. 
XLYII, fig. 119. 

The spawn-eater has a moderately elongate and compressed 
body, its greatest hight contained four and one half times in 
the total length without caudal, and about equal to length of 
head. The head is conical, with short, blunt snout equal to the 
diameter of the eye, which is contained three and one half times 
in the length of the head. The space between the eyes equals 
length of postorbital part of head. Mouth small, nearly hori- 
zontal, the lower jaw very slightly the shorter, the maxilla 
reaching the vertical through the posterior nostril. The lateral 
line is slightly curved downward over the pectoral, straight and 
median for the rest of its course. The origin of the dorsal is 
over, and of the ventral under, the 13th scale of the lateral line. 
The dorsal base is two thirds as long as the head, and the 
longest ray as long as the head. The ventral reaches nearly 
or quite to the vent. The anal origin is under the 24th scale 
of the lateral line; the anal base is one half and the longest 
anal ray four fifths as long as the head. The caudal is large 
and deeply forked, its middle rays half as long as the outer. 
D. 8; A. 8 or 9; V. 8; P. 14. Scales 7-38-5; teeth 2, 4-4, 1 or 2 t 
with a narrow grinding surface on at least two. Length of 
specimens described from Washington D. C. 3J to 4£ inches. 
Color in spirits pale brown, the fins and all of head except upper 
surface pale; a broad median silvery band, its greatest width 
about equal to diameter of eye; a dusky spot at the root of the 
caudal in the young. 

The spawn-eater is said to occur from Lake Superior to New 
York and southward. In Pennsylvania begins a form elsewhere 
described as N. a m a r u s , which differs in the structure of 
the pharyngeal teeth. 

This minnow does not much frequent small streams, but i& 
abundant in the Delaware river and also in Lake Erie. De Kay 
records its occurrence in the Hudson and its tributaries. 

In the Lake Ontario region the TJ. S. Fish Commission col- 
lectors obtained numerous specimens in these localities. 



142 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Salt brook, 1J miles above Nine Mile point June 10-11, 1893 

€ape Vincent June 21, 1894 

Orenadier island June 27, 1894 

Horse island, Sacketts Harbor June 30, 1894 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk July 25, 1894 

Three Mile creek, Oswego July 27, 1894 

Great Sodus bay Aug. 6, 1894 

Long pond, Charlotte Aug. 17, 1894 

Lake shore, mouth Long pond Aug. 17, 1894 

Nine Mile point, Webster Aug. 23, 1894 

East end Lake Ontario 1894 

Livingston Stone also collected the species at Cape Vincent 
Aug. 9, 1898. 

In the Lake Champlain basin Evermann and Bean obtained it 
at Scioto creek, Coopersville, and Rouse Point July 19, 1894. 

The spawn-eater reaches the length of 10 inches. Its teeth 
are usually four in the principal row and two in the inner. Its 
spawn-eating habits are not verified. 

84 Notropis hudsonius amarus (Girard) 
Gudgeon 

Hudsonius amarus Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat Sci. Phila. 210, 1856. (Chesa- 
peake Bay; Potomac river at Washington) 

Eyoopsis storerianus Cope, Cypr. Penna. 386, 1866. 

Leuciscus storerianus Gunther, Cat Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 250, 1868; Kirt- 
land, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. V, 30, pi. IX, fig. 2, 1847. 

Cliola stareriana Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 170, 1883. 

Notropis amarus Bean, Fishes Penna. 30, pi. 23, fig. 37, 1803. 

Notropis hudsonius amarus Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 24, 1885; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 270, 1806. 

The gudgeon has a moderately elongate and compressed body 
and a slender caudal peduncle. The greatest depth equals one 
fourth of the total length to base of caudal, and the least depth 
of the peduncle equals the length of the postorbital part of head. 
The head is rather short with an obtuse short snout ; the length 
of the head is nearly one fourth of the total to base of caudal. 
The snout is one fourth and the eye one third as long as the 
head. The maxilla extends to the vertical through the front of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 143 

the eye; the lower jaw is slightly included; the mouth is slightly 
oblique. The width of the head equals nearly two thirds of its 
length. The distance between the eyes equals the length of the 
orbit. The dorsal origin is over, and the ventral origin under,, 
the 10th scale of the lateral line. The length of the dorsal base 
equals two thirds that of the head, and the longest dorsal ray is 
four fifths as long as the head. The anal base is as long as the 
postorbital part of the head and the longest ray is about two 
thirds as long as the head. The ventral reaches nearly to the 
vent, and the pectoral to below the 8th scale of the lateral line. 
The lateral line is very slightly bent downward over the pec- 
toral. The caudal is moderate in size and deeply forked. D. 
ii, 7; A. ii, 7; V. 8; P. 15. Scales 6-36 to 39-4; teeth 1, 4-4, 1 or 
1, 4-4, in the example described, from the Susquehanna river. 
Length 4J inches. The teeth are slightly hooked, and two or 
three on each side have a developed grinding surface. The color 
in spirits is light brown, the sides of body and lower half of head 
silvery; the young have a narrow dusky median lateral band,, 
which is sometimes continued on the snout, and a more or less 
distinct small dark blotch at the base of the caudal. The fins 
are all pale. 

The gudgeon or smelt of Pennsylvania is a variety of N. 
hudsonius of Clinton, which ranges from Lake Superior to 
New York and south in streams east of the Alleghanies to 
Georgia. The southern form is the variety a m a r u s of 
Girard, which exhibits some difference in its pharyngeal teeth. 
The species is an extremely variable one. It grows to a length 
of about 8 inches. Prof. Cope records it as abundant in the 
Susquehanna, specially in the lower part of the river. 

This is a handsome silvery fish, and is as much used for food 
as its associate, the silvery minnow. 

85 Notropis whipplii (Girard) 
Silverfin 

Cyprinella whipplii Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 198, 1856. 

Photogenis spilopterus Cope, Cypr. Penna. 378, 1866. 

Leuciscus spilopterus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 254, 1868. 



144 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Luxilus Jcentuckiensis Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. V, 27, pi. VIII, fig. 

3, 1847. 
Eypsilepis Jcentuckiensis Cope, Cypr. Penna. 371, 1806. 
Cliola whipplei Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 178, 1883. 
Cliola analostana Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 179, 1883. 
Notropis whipplei Bean, Fishes Penna. 39, 1893. 
Notropis whipplii Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 278, 

1896, pi. XLVIII, fig. 121, 1900. 

The silverfin has a moderately elongate body, which is fusi- 
form in the adult. The caudal peduncle is short and stout. The 
depth of the body at the ventral fin equals nearly one fourth 
of the total length to the caudal base. The head is conical, com- 
pressed and with a pointed snout a little longer than the eye, 
which is two ninths as long as the head. The mouth is moder- 
ate, terminal, slightly oblique, the jaws nearly equal, the max- 
illa reaching to vertical through front of eye. The head is two 
ninths of the total length without caudal. The dorsal origin is 
a little behind the ventral origin and over the 15th scale of the 
lateral line. The length of the dorsal base equals one seventh 
of the total without caudal, and the longest ray is as long as 
the head without the snout. The ventral reaches nearly to the 
anal. The anal begins under the 21st scale of the lateral line; 
its base is as long as the dorsal base, and its longest ray is 
about two thirds as long as the head. The caudal is large and 
moderately forked. The lateral line curves downward over the 
pectoral. D. 8; A. 9; V. 8; P. 14. Scales 6-38 to 41-4; teeth 
1, 4-4, 1, with more or less serrate edges. Length of specimen 
described, from the Susquehanna river, 4 inches. 

In spirits the back is brown, the sides dull silvery, the scales 
with a dusky margin, and the lower parts are whitish. A nar- 
row and long black blotch on the membrane between the 6th 
and 7th and another between the 7th and 8th dorsal rays. 
Lower fins pale. Males in spring have the fins partly or wholly 
charged with white pigment, and in the hight of the breeding 
season the pigment in the dorsal has a greenish tint, and the 
top of the head and snout is covered with minute tubercles. 

This is one of our finest minnows for the aquarium and is* 
useful as food and bait for larger fishes. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 145 

The silverfin ranges from western New York to Virginia and 
west to Minnesota and Arkansas. It is a common and variable 
species. It reaches a length of 4 inches. In Pennsylvania it 
occurs in all the rivers and creeks, but according to Prof. Cope 
is least common in tributaries of the Delaware. 

According to Dr Meek it is common on flats near Fall creek 
and in the southern end of Cayuga lake. Evermann and Bean 
took' it in Scioto creek, Coopersville N. Y. in July 1894. In the 
Lake Ontario region the U. S. Fish Commission secured the 
following specimens: 

Orenadier island • June 27, 1894 

Horse island, Sacketts Harbor June 30, 1894 

Cape Vincent June 21, 1894 

Mill creek, Sacket Harbor July 2, 1894 

Cemetery creek and Black river, Watertown July 5, 1894 

Chaumont river July 10, 1894 

Great Sodus bay Aug. 6, 1894 

Creek near Pultneyville Aug. 7, 1894 

Specimens were obtained also by Livingston Stone at Cape 
Vincent Aug. 9, 1898, and presented to the State Museum. 

Subgenus luxilus Rafinesque 

86 Notropis cornutus (Mitchill) 

Shiner; Redfin, 

Cyprinus cornutus Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag. I, 289, July, 1817. 

(meager preliminary notice) ; op. cit. II, 324, Feb. 1818. (Wallkill river, 

N. Y.) 
Cyprinus megalops Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 121, Dec. 1817. 

(Hudson river, above the falls) . 
Leuciscus vittatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 212, pi. 34, fig. 108, 1842. 

(Chittenonda and other tributaries of the Mohawk; also in Mohawk) 
Hypsilepis cornutus Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 158, 1867. 
Leuciscus cornutus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 207, pi. 29, fig. 92, 1842; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 249, 1868. 
Minnilus cornutus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 186, 1883. 
Minnilus plumbeolus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 192, 

1883. 
Notropis megalops Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 26, 1885; Bean, Fishes Penna. 

40, 1893. 
Notropis cornutus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 281, 1896. 



146 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The redfin when young has the body moderately elongate, but 
it becomes deeper with age and much compressed. The caudal 
peduncle is short, and its depth equals length of postorbital 
part of head. The depth of the body at the ventral is contained 
three and one third to four times in the total length without 
the caudal. The head is short, deep and thin, its length one 
fourth of the total without caudal, its width about one half its 
length. The eye is as long as the snout and two sevenths as 
long as the head. Mouth, moderate, terminal, oblique, the .max- 
illa reaching about to vertical through front of eye. The dorsal 
origin is over, and the ventral origin under, the 12th scale of 
the lateral line. The length of the dorsal base equals one sev- 
enth of the total without the caudal, and its longest ray one 
fifth of the same length. The ventral reaches nearly or quite 
to vent. The anal origin is under the 23d scale of the lateral 
line. The anal base is one half, and the longest ray two thirds 
as long as the head. The caudal is large and deeply forked. 
The lateral line descends in a long curve, becoming straight and 
median over the anal origin. D. 8; A. 9; Y. 8; P. 15. Scales- 
7-40 to 41-4; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, with narrow grinding surface. 
Length of specimens described, from 4 to 4-| inches. 

The upper parts of this fish are steel blue and the scales are 
dusky at the edge and base. The sides are silvery, overlaid 
with a gilt line; there is another gilt band along the back. The 
belly is silvery except in spring males, in which it is a bright 
rosy color. The male in the breeding season has the lower jaw 
and the top of the head and nape covered with small tubercles. 
In the breeding condition this is a very handsome species, though 
the females and young lack the bright colors of the adult male. 

The redfin is known also as the common shiner, dace, rough- 
head, and banded dace. It is a very widely distributed species,, 
is extremely variable, and, as a consequence, some geographic 
races have received distinct names. It extends from Maine to 
the Rocky mountains, but is absent from the Carolinas and 
Texas. It grows to a length of 8 inches. In Pennsylvania the 
species is common everywhere and is best known under the name 
of redfin. It reaches a very large size in Lake Erie. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 147 

In New York Mitchill had it from the Wallkill; Eafinesque 
from the Hudson above the falls. De Kay knew it from the 
Mohawk and some of its tributaries including the Chittenonda. 
Dr Meek found it verv, common throughout the entire Cayuga 
lake basin. Evermann and Bean collected it in the Saranac 
river, Plattsburg, July 28, and in Scioto creek, Coopersville, 
July 19, 1894. They secured it also in the St Lawrence river, 
3 miles below Ogdensburg, July 17, 1894. The U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion field parties found it very common in the Lake Ontario 
basin 1892 to 1894, specimens having been recorded from: Sacket 
Harbor, Charlotte, Huntingtonville, Henderson Harbor, Cape 
Vincent, Pulaski, Oswego, Pultneyville, Pointbreeze, Webster, 
Belleville, Scriba Corners, Wart creek, North Hamlin and Salt 
brook. 

The redfin runs into small brooks and is most abundant in 

eddies and other quiet parts of the streams. It has no value 

except as food and bait for larger fishes, specially the black bass 

and pike perch. The flesh is very soft and decays rapidly after 

death. 

87 Notropis cornutus frontalis (Agassiz) 

Leuciscus frontalis Agassiz, Lake Superior, 368, pi. 3, fig. 4, 1850, or Hyp- 

solepis frontalis fide Guntheb. 
Hypsilepis cornutus gibbus Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 158, 1867. 
Minnilus cornutus var. frontalis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 187, 1883. 
Notropis megalops frontalis Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 307, 1888. 
Notropis cornutus frontalis Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

283, 1896. 

Very close to the typical cornutus, differing in its very 
heavy head and in the smaller number of scales (13 to 18) in 
advance of the dorsal. Great lakes; every where common in 
mouths of brooks. Dr Meek found it scarce near Ithaca and 
common near Montezuma N. Y. 

Subgenus notropis 
88 Notropis atherinoides Eafinesque 
Emerald Blinnow; Rosy Minnow 

Notropis atherinoides Eafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 204, Jan. 1818, 
Alburnus rubellus Agassiz, Lake Superior, 364, pi. 3, figs. 1-3, 1850. 
Leuciscus rubellus Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 254, 1868, 



14S NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Minnilus rubellus and dinemus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 202, 1883. 
Kotropis atherinoides Jordan, Cat Fish. N. A. 27, 1885; Meek, Ann. N. Y. 

Acad. Sci. IV, 308, 1888; Bean, Fishes Penna. 44, 1898; Jordan & 

Fvermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 293, 1896. 

The emerald minnow or rosy minnow has a long and thin body 
and the caudal peduncle moderately short and deep. The great- 
est depth of the body is contained four and three fourths to five 
and one half times in the total length to caudal base; the least 
depth of the caudal peduncle is contained 11J times in the same 
length. The greatest width of the body is one half its hight. 
The head is of moderate size, its length two ninths of the total 
to caudal base. The snout is short and somewhat pointed, its 
length one fourth that of the head. Eye large, about three 
and one fourth times in length of head; mouth oblique, moder- 
ate, the maxilla reaching front of eye. The dorsal origin is 
midway between the eye and the base of the caudal, over the 
17th scale of the lateral line. The base of the fin is two fifths 
as long as the head, and the longest ray equals the length of the 
head without the snout. The ventral origin is under the 13th 
scale of the lateral line, and the fin scarcely reaches to below the 
end of the dorsal base. The pectoral reaches to below the 
eighth or ninth scale of the lateral line. The anal origin is 
under the 24th scale of the lateral line; the base is one half as 
long as the head, and the longest ray equals the snout and 
eye combined. The caudal is rather large and deeply forked. 
The lateral line sweeps downward in a long and shallow curve, 
becoming nearly median over the anal base. D. ii, 7; A. ii, 9; 
V. 8; P. 14. Scales 6-39-4; teeth 2, 4-4, 2 or 1, some of them 
with a slight hook and narrow grinding surface. The specimens 
described (no. 8735, U. S. National Museum) are 4 to 4J inches 
long. In spirits the upper parts are light brown, the sides and 
cheeks silvery, and the belly golden brown; the fins all pale; the 
width of the silvery stripe equal to diameter of. eye. In life the 
upper parts are greenish; breeding males have the snout rosy. 

The emerald minnow is found in the Great lakes region, the 
Ohio valley and south to Tennessee, being abundant in lakes 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 149 

and in rapids of rivers. The variety found in Pennsylvania has 
a shorter snout and a smaller eye than the typical a t h e r - 
i n o i d e s and has received the specific name d i n e m u s ; but 
the differences are not supposed to be constant. The emerald 
minnow reaches a length of 6 inches; it is gregarious like other 
minnows; and its golden lateral stripe on a clear green ground 
makes it a handsome species. 

Dr Meek found one example near Ithaca, in Six Mile creek, 
below the falls. A few specimens were also found in a small 
stream near Montezuma dry dock, in company with N. 
lythrurus. Evermann and Bean caught a single example 
in Scioto creek, Coopersville, July 19, 1894; also three specimens 
in the St Lawrence river, 3 miles below Ogdensburg July 17, 
1894. At Cape Vincent June 21, 1894, the U. S. Fish Commission 
collectors took 29 specimens, and at Grenadier island, June 27, 
they obtained 14 individuals. Livingston Stone also collected 
the species at Cape Vincent Aug. 9, 1898, and presented speci- 
mens to the State Museum. 

89 Notropis rubrifrons (Cope) 
Rosy-faced Minnow 

Alburnus rubrifrons Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 85, 1865. 

Albvmellns rubrifrons Cope, Cypr. Penna. 388, pi. XIII, fig. 3, 1866. 

Leuciscus rubrifrons Guixthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 255, 1868. 

Minnilus rubrifrons and percobromus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 202, 1883. 

Notropis dilectus Bean, Fishes Penna. 44, 1893. 

Notropis rubrifrons Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 27, 1885; Jordan & Ever- 
mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 295, 1896. 

The rosy-faced minnow has the body moderately long and thin, 
with a short and deep caudal peduncle. The greatest depth of 
the body equals one fourth, and the least depth of the peduncle, 
one eighth of the total length to base of caudal. The head is 
moderate in size; its width one half of its length, which is one 
fourth of the total to base of caudal. The snout is pointed and 
shorter than the eye, which is one fourth to two sevenths as 
long as the head and equal to the distance between the eyes. 
The mouth is oblique, and the lower jaw projects slightly; the 



150 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

maxilla reaches nearly to below the front of the pupil. The 
dorsal origin is over the 15th, and the ventral origin under the 
12th scale of the lateral line. The base of the dorsal is half as 
long as the head, and the longest dorsal ray equals the length 
of the head without the snout. The ventral reaches to the vent, 
which is under the 18th scale of the lateral line. The anal base 
is as long as the snout and eye combined, a.nd the longest anal 
ray is two thirds as long as the head. The caudal is moderate 
in size and deeply forked. The lateral line curves gently down- 
ward over the pectoral. D. ii, 7; A. ii, 8; V. 8; P. 13. Scales 
6-36-4; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, hooked. The specimens described are 
2 inches long. In spirits the body is pale brown; a silvery shade 
along the median line; the head silvery except above; belly 
golden; fins all pale. In life the upper parts are olive green and 
the sides silvery. Males in the breeding condition in spring 
have prickles on the snout and the forehead; gill covers and 
dorsal base with a rosy flush. The name dilectus means 
delightful. 

The rosy-faced minnow, though reaching a length of only 3 
inches or less, is a very beautiful fish. It is abundant in the 
Ohio valley and extends westward to Nebraska. This is the 
Alburnellus rubrifrons of Cope. 

The U. S. Fish Commission collections of 1894 contain this 
minnow from Salt brook, 1J miles above Nine Mile point June 11, 
Mill creek, Sacket Harbor July 2, Wart creek July 24, Sandy 
creek, North Hamlin Aug. 20. 

Evermann and Bean secured it in abundance in Racquette 
river, Norfolk, July 18, 1894, and they had a few specimens from 
Scioto creek, Coopersville, July 19, 1894. 

90 Notropis amoenus (Abbott) 

Alburnellus amoenus Abbott, Amer. Nat. VIII, 334, 1874. Raritan RJver, 

N.J. 
Notropis amoenus Jordan, Bull. U. S. Fish Com. XIII, 102, 1891; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 296, 1896. 

Head four; depth five and one third (four and three fourths to 
#ve and one half); eye three and one third. D, 8; A. 10. Scales 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 151 

6-39-3. Close toNotropis rubrifrons, but the scales 
before dorsal smaller, as in N. photogenis-. Body elon- 
gate, compressed; eye large, longer than snout; mouth large, 
oblique, the jaws subequal, the maxillary reaching to below 
front of eye; 22 to 25 (rarely 18 to 20) scales before dorsal; 
lateral line much decurved; dorsal high, placed behind ventrals; 
pectorals moderate. Translucent green, sides silvery, with 
sometimes a faint plumbeous band ending in an obscure plum- 
beous spot. Length 3f inches. Clear streams east of the 
Alleghanies from the Raritan to the Neuse; abundant; formerly 
confounded with N. photogenis, of which it may be a 
variety. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

Eugene Smith 1 says it is perhaps a variety of N. photo- 
genis (Cope). Abbott mentions it from the Raritan river, 
near New Brunswick N. J. 

91 Notropis umbratilis lythrurus Jordan 
Redfin 

Notropis lythrurus Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 476, 1884. 

Hypsilepis diplaemia Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 162, 1867. 

Minnilus diplaemius Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 197, 

1883. 
Luxilus lucidus Girard, Pacific It. E. Surv. Fishes, 282, pi. LX, figs. 9-12, 

1858. 
NotemigoJius lucidus Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 249, 1883. 
Notropis lythrurus Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 307, 1888. 
Notropis umbratilis lythrurus Jordan & Evermann Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 300, 1896. 

Head four and one fourth; depth four to four and one half; 
eye three to four. D. 7; A. 11. Scales 9-40 to 52-3; teeth 2, 
4-4, 2. Body compressed, the caudal peduncle long; head long, 
conical, rather pointed; mouth large, moderately oblique, the 
premaxillary on level of pupil, the maxillary reaching to below 
eye; lower jaw somewhat projecting; eye moderate, about equal 
to muzzle; scales closly imbricated, crowded anteriorly, about 
30 before dorsal; dorsal fin high, inserted about midway be- 
tween ventrals and anal; pectorals not reaching ventrals; 

^inn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1S97. no. 9, p. 18. 



152 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

ventrals reaching to vent; caudal fin long. Coloration dark 
steel blue above; pale or silvery below; a more or less evident 
black spot at base of dorsal in front; the fins otherwise all plain. 
Males with the anterior dorsal region and the head profusely 
covered with small whitish tubercles, the belly and lower fins 
being of a bright brick red in the spring. Females very pale 
olive, sometimes almost colorless. Length 3-J inches. Minne- 
sota to western New York (Cayuga lake), North Carolina, Ala- 
bama, and Kansas; generally abundant in small, clear streams. 
(After Jordan and Evermann) 

Dr- Meek took a single specimen from a small stream near 
the Montezuma dry dock. 

Genus rhinichthys Agassiz 
Body moderately elongate and little compressed, with usually 
stout caudal peduncle and long, conical nose; head rather large, 
sometimes broad and flat above; eye small; mouth small, sub- 
inferior, the upper jaw fixed by the union of the upper lip to 
the skin of the forehead; end of maxillary with a small barbel. 
Teeth 2, 4-4, 2 (sometimes 2, 4-4, 1) those of the principal row 
usually hooked, without grinding surface. A short intestinal 
canal; scales very small; lateral line decurved, continuous; 
dorsal origin slightly behind ventral; base of anal short. Small 
fishes inhabiting clear, cold brooks and streams. 

92 Rhinichthys cataractae (Cuv. & Val.) 

Long Nosed Dace; Niagara Gudgeon 

Gobio cataractae Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVI, 315, 

pi. 483 (poor), 1842 (specimen 5 inches long, from Niagara Falls, N. Y., 

Milbert); De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 394; 1842. (After Cuvier and 
. Valenciennes) 
Leuciscus nasutus Ayres, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 299, pi. XIII, fig. 3 

(very bad), 1844. West Hartford, Conn. Specimen 5*4 inches long. 
Rhinichthys marrmoratus Agassiz, Lake Superior, 354, pi. 2, figs. 1-2, 1850; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 189, 1868. 
Rhinichthys nasutus Gunther, op. cit. VII, 189. 
Argyreus nasutus Cope, Cypr. Penna. 369, pi. XII, fig. 5, 1866. 
Ceratichthys cataractae Gunther, op. cit. VII, 176, 1878. 
Rhinichthys cataractae Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 207, 

1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 46, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 

TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 306, 1896. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 153 

The long nosed dace has a moderately elongate body, with 
short and stout caudal peduncle and a moderate sized head. The 
greatest depth is contained four and two thirds times in the 
total length without caudal; the least depth of the caudal 
peduncle eight and one half times. The width of the body 
equals the combined length of snout and eye. The length of 
the head is one fourth of the total without caudal and three 
times the length of the snout. The eye is placed high, one fifth 
to one quarter as long as the head and about two thirds as long 
as the interorbital width. The mouth is horizontal, small, 
placed under the snout, the lower jaw the shorter, the upper lip 
thick and provided with a small barbel at each end. The maxilla 
reaches to below the posterior nostril. The dorsal origin is 
above the 23d scale of the lateral line, and the ventral origin is 
under the 20th. The dorsal base is one half, and the longest ray 
four fifths as long as the head. The ventral reaches a little 
beyond the vent and almost to the anal origin. The pectoral 
reaches nearly or quite to the origin of the ventral, being longer 
in males. The anal origin is under the 34th scale of the lateral 
line and a little behind the end of the dorsal. The anal base 
is one half, the longest ray three fourths as long as the head. 
The caudal is comparatively large and weir forked. The lateral 
line drops gently downward in a short curve over the pectoral 
and becomes median over that fin. D. ii, 7; A. ii, 6; Y. 8; P. 12. 
Scales 13-57 to 65-10; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, three of the principal row 
hooked. Length of the specimen described (no. 8505, U. S. 
National Museum) 3J inches. 

In spirits the color is brown mottled with grayish; the under 
surface of head sharply defined and pale; the fins all pale. 
Breeding males in spring have the lips, cheeks and lower fins 
crimson. The sides are without a black lateral band, which is 
characteristic of the black nosed species. The general color is 
olivaceous or dark green with the lower parts paler. The back 
is nearly black. Some of the scales are mottled with dark and 
olivaceous. The young have a trace of a dusky lateral band. 
The fish reaches the length of 5J inches. 






154 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The long nosed dace or Niagara gudgeon is found in New 
England and the Middle states, and in the Great lakes region in 
clear, cold water. In Pennsylvania, according to Cope, it is 
limited to the rapids and swift waters of the eastern part of the 
state. 

Evermann and Bean collected 50 specimens in Saranac river, 
Plattsburg N. Y. July 28, 1894, but did not find it in the St 
Lawrence river or in the Lake Ontario tributaries. Though Dr 
Meek obtained no specimens of this species from Cayuga lake 
basin, he believes it a member of the fauna, as it is common in 
the streams south of Ithaca near Van Ettenville, Chemung co. 
N. Y. 

The long nosed dace frequents rapids and rocky pools, and is 
associated in mountain regions with the brook trout. Its move- 
ments are swift and powerful and it is a very shapely little fish. 
As a bait for the black bass it is scarcely surpassed. 

93 Rhinichthys atronasus (Mitchill) 
Black Nosed Dace; Brook Mvrmow 

Cyprinus atronasus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 460, 1815. 

(Wallkill River; Fresh-water trout brooks of New York); Amer. Month. 

Mag. I, 289, Aug. 1817. Mud-fish, from Wallkill Creek. 
Cyprinus vittatus Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 121, Dec. 1817. 

Hudson River above the falls. 
Leuciscus atronasus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 205, pi. 23, fig. 69, 1842. 
RhinicMJiys atronasus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 191, 1868; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 208, 1883; Meek, Ann. 

N. Y. Acad. Sci. 308, 1888; Bean, Fishes Penna. 47, pi. 23, fig. 30, 

1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 307, 1896. 
Argyreus atronasus Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 122, pi. XXI, fig. 4, 1867. 

The black nosed dace has a moderately long and stout body, 
with a broad back, and rather small conical head. The greatest 
depth of the body is contained four and one fourth to four and 
one half times in the total length without caudal. The least 
depth of the caudal peduncle equals one half greatest depth of 
body. The head is one fourth as long as the fish to caudal base; 
its width is ajbout one half its length and the snout nearly one 
third to two sevenths. The eye is as long as the snout and 
much less than width of interorbital space. The mouth is small, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 155 

slightly oblique and with nearly equal jaws; the maxillary bar- 
bel small or wanting; the maxilla reaches to below the front 
edge of the posterior nostril. The dorsal origin is nearer to 
root of caudal than to tip of snout, over the 26th scale of the 
lateral line. The length of the base is contained two and one 
third times in that of the head, and the longest ray equals 
length of head without snout. The ventral origin is slightly in 
advance of the dorsal origin, and the fin extends to the vent. 
The pectoral reaches to the 16th scale of the lateral line. In 
breeding males it is greatly thickened. The anal origin is 
behind the end of the dorsal base, under the 34th scale of the 
lateral line; the fin is variable in length with sex and age, some- 
times five sixths as long as the head. The caudal is small and 
not deeply forked. The lateral line curves downward over the 
pectoral, soon becoming median. D. ii, 6 or 7; A. ii, 6; V. 8; 
P. 11. Scales 10-56 to 63-10; teeth 2, 4-4, 2, three of the prin- 
cipal row strongly hooked. Length of the specimens described 
(no. 33984, U. S. National Museum) 2f to 3 inches. In spirits 
the upper parts are brown and are separated from the silvery 
lower parts by a dark lateral band, as wide as the short diame- 
ter of the eye and continued on the snout. Breeding males in 
spring have the lateral band and the lower fins crimson, run- 
ning into orange in summer. In the young the dark median 
band extends on the tail fin. 

The black nosed dace or " rockfish " is represented in our 
waters by two forms, one of which is found in the eastern part 
of the Great lakes region and from Maine to Virginia; this is 
replaced in the upper lake region and in the Ohio valley, south- 
ward to Georgia and Alabama, by the blunt nosed variety, 
Rhinichthys obtusus of Agassiz. 

The species grows to the length of 3 inches. 

The collections of the U. S. Fish Commission in the Lake Onta- 
rio region contained this species from a great many localities: 
Cape Vincent, Great Sodus bay, Sacketts Harbor, Stony Island, 
Grenadier island, Oswego, Buena Vista, Belleville, Pulaski, 
Wart creek, Huntingtonville, Henderson bay, and Webster. The 



156 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

fish were taken in June, July and August and were rather com- 
mon in most places. 

Evermann and Bean took one example in the St Lawrence 
river, 3 miles below Ogdensburg, July 17, 1894; they secured 
eight specimens in the Saranac, at Plattsburg, July 28, 1894. 
According to Dr Meek it is common near Ithaca in all streams 
above and below the falls; but was not found by him near Mon- 
tezuma. Mitchill described the fish from fresh-water brooks of 
New York containing trout, chiefly from ' the Wallkill, where 
Rafinesque also knew of its occurrence. De Kay states its hab- 
itat to be clear, fresh-water streams and rivulets of New York 
and adjoining states. Eugene Smith found it associated with 
darters, blobs and small minnows in the vicinity of New York 
city. 

This fish prefers clear small brooks. Swift and active in its 
movements and beautiful in colors, it is one of the most inter- 
esting inhabitants of the waters in which it lives. In the aqua- 
rium Eugene Smith observed it to eat voraciously of animal 
food and to be more hardy than any other minnow. 

Genus hybopsis Agassiz 

Body robust, or variously elongate; mouth terminal or in- 
ferior, with lips thin or somewhat fleshy, a conspicuous barbel 
always present and terminal on the maxillary; a second barbel 
sometimes present on each side; premaxillaries protractile. 
Teeth 4-4, or 1, 4-4, 1, or 0; hooked, the grinding surface narrow 
or obsolete. Scales usually rather large; lateral line continu- 
ous. Dorsal inserted over, in front of, or slightly behind ven- 
trals; anal basis short. Males usually with nuptial tubercles, 
and sometimes flushed with red. A large and varied group, 
closely allied to Notropis, from which it differs chiefly in 
the presence of the small maxillary barbel. (After Jordan and 
Evermann) 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 157 

Subgenus erimystax Jordan 

94 Hybopsis dissimilis (Kirtland) 

Spotted Shiner 

Luxilus dissimilis Kirtland, Boat. Jour. Nat. Hist. Ill, 341, pi. IV, fig. 2, 

1841. 
CeraticJithys dissimilis Cope, Cypr.,Penna. 368, pi. 12, fig. 1, 1866; Gunther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 177, 1868; Jordan & Gilrert, Bull, 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 215, 1883. 
Hybopsis dissimilis Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 29, 1885; Bean, Fishes Penna. 

48, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 318, 1896. 

The spotted shiner has a long and slender body, its greatest 
depth being nearly one fifth of the total length without the 
caudal. The caudal peduncle is long and low, its least depth 
two fifths of greatest depth of body. The width of the body 
equals two thirds of its depth. The head is moderately large, 
its length one fourth of the total without the caudal. The 
snout is long but obtusely rounded at the point, its length one 
and one half times the diameter of the eye, which is two 
sevenths of the length of the head. The mouth is small, in- 
ferior, horizontal, the maxilla reaching to below the anterior 
nostril and with a small barbel at its hind end. The gill open- 
ings are separated by a very broad isthmus. The dorsal begins 
over the 16th scale of the lateral line and slightly in advance 
of the ventral; the dorsal base is one half as long as the head; 
the longest ray is as long as the head without the snout; the 
last ray is as long as the snout. The ventral reaches to the 
vent, its length one seventh of the total without the caudal. 
The pectoral reaches to below the 13th scale of the lateral line. 
The anal origin is under the 27th scale of the lateral line ; the 
anal base is short, equaling the diameter of the eye; the longest 
ray is as long as the ventral; the last ray is one third as long 
as the head. The caudal is moderately large and deeply forked, 
the middle rays one half as long as the external rays. The 
lateral line is nearly straight and median. D. ii, 8; A. ii, 6; 
V. 7; P. 15. Scales 6-43-5; teeth 4-4, hooked and with a short 
grinding surface. In spirits the back is brown, the lower parts 
are whitish, and the sides are broadly striped with silvery. In 



158 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

life the lateral stripe is bluish and overlaid with dusky spots 
and is continued forward through the eye around the snout. 
The fins are pale. , The specimen described, no. 36746, U. S. 
National Museum, from White River Ind., is 3J inches long. 

The spotted shiner occurs in the Great lakes region and Ohio 
valley southward to Kentucky and west to Iowa. It is abun- 
dant in creeks of western Pennsylvania. Kirtland had the spe- 
cies from the Mahoning river and from Lake Erie. The spe- 
cies is most common in the Great lakes and in the channels of 
large streams, and does not run into small brooks. It is a 
ready biter and is caught in large numbers by hook fishing. It 
is useful as bait, being employed with minnows to bait the hooks 
on " set lines." 

The species grows to the length of 6 inches, and derives its 
name from the bluish band along the sides which is inter- 
rupted so as to form spots. The sides are bright silvery in 
color and the fins unspotted. The body is long and slender. 

Subgenus hybofsis Agassiz 

95 Hybopsis storerianus (Kirtland) 

Lake Mmnow 

Rutilus storerianus Kirtland, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. I, 71, 1842. (Lake 

Erie) 
Leuciscus storerianus Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. V, 30, pi. 9, fig. 2, 

1847; Guntheb, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 250, 1868. 
Geraticlitliys lucens Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 213, 1883. 
Cliola storeriana Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 171, 1883. 
Hybopsis storerianus Jordan, Gat. Fish. N. A. 28, 1885; Jordan & Ever- 

mann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 321, 1896. 

Body elongate, compressed, the dorsal outline ascending grad- 
ually to origin of dorsal, thence descending to the caudal fin; 
head short, compressed, its length four and one third in total 
without caudal; depth of body one fourth total; eye equal to 
snout, one third length of head; interorbital space broad, flat, 
somewhat grooved, its width about equal to eye; preorbital 
bone large, oblong, conspicuous, silvery; mouth rather small, 
horizontal, the lower jaw included; edge of premaxillary below 
level of eye; maxillary not reaching to front of orbit; barbel 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 159 

conspicuous; snout boldly and abruptly decurved, the tip thick- 
ened, forming a sort of pad; lateral line somewhat decurved. 
Rows of scales along back converging behind dorsal, where the 
upper series run out, as in Notropis cornutus. Fins 
rather higher and more falcate than in H. kentuckiensis ; 
dorsal fin inserted well forward, over ventrals; pectoral fins 
pointed, not reaching ventrals; ventrals not reaching vent; 
caudal long, deeply forked. Teeth usually 1, 4-4, 0, hooked, 
without grinding surface. Translucent greenish above; sides 
and below brilliantly silvery; cheeks and opercles with a bright 
silvery luster; fins plain; a slight plumbeous lateral shade; no 
caudal spot; no red. Length 5 to 10 inches. Lake Erie to 
Nebraska and eastern Wyoming, Tennessee, and Arkansas; 
abundant in the larger streams, specially in Iowa. (After Jor- 
dan and Evermann) 

Kirtland found the lake minnow only in Lake Erie, where it 
was frequently taken with seines in fishing for other species. 
The U. S. Fish Commission recently added it to the fauna of the 
Lake Ontario basin, three specimens having been collected in 
Long pond, Charlotte, Aug. 17, 1894. 

Subgenus nocomis Girard 
96 Hybopsis kentuckiensis (Rafinesque) 
Horned Chub; River Chub 

Luxilus kentuckiensis Eafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 48, 1820. 

Semotilus Mguttatus Kirtland, Bost. .Tout. Nat. Hist. Ill, 344, pi. V, fig. 1, 

1841. 
Leuciscus Mguttatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 214 (extralimital), 

1842. 
Ceraticlitliys Mguttatus CorE, Cypr. Penna. 366, pi. 11, fig. 5, 1866; Gunther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 178, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 212, 1883. \ 

Ceraticlitliys micropogon Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 212, 

1883. 
Hybopsis kentuckiensis Bean, Fishes Penna. 49, pi. 24, fig. 40, 1893; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 322, 1896. 

Body stout and rather short, its greatest depth nearly equal 
to length of head and one fourth of total length without caudal ; 
snout long and obtuse, its length rather more than one third 



160 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

length of head, and nearly twice diameter of eye; mouth large 
and placed low, the maxilla reaching to below front of eye, 
the lower jaw shorter than upper; dorsal origin slightly nearer 
to root of caudal than to tip of snout, its base one half as long 
as the head and two thirds as long as its longest ray; ventral 
under front part of dorsal, its length equal to dorsal base; 
anal origin under 24th scale of lateral line, longest anal ray 
about one seventh of total to caudal base, pect6ral two thirds 
as long as head, and reaching to below 13th scale of lateral 
line; caudal moderately forked. D. iii, 7; A. iii, 6. Scales 
6-40 to 45-5. Color bluish olive, the head darker; green and 
coppery reflections on the sides. Fins pale orange, pinkish in 
spring; lower parts white. Breeding males have the top of 
head swollen into a crest and covered with coarse tubercles, 
from which arises the name horned chub; they have also some- 
times a red spot on each side of head. The young have a broad 
dark median band and a dusky spot at the base of the tail fin. 

Rafinesque states that the fish is known as Indian chub, red- 
tail and shiner. Other names in eastern localities are nigger 
chub, river chub, jerker, horned dace and horny-head. 

The species ranges from Pennsylvania westward to Dakota 
and south to Alabama. In Pennsylvania it is common in the 
Susquehanna and the Ohio basin, but absent from the Dela- 
ware. Dr Meek collected a few specimens at Montezuma N. Y. 
and found none in any of the other localities investigated. 
Eugene Smith refers to this species two specimens of fish from 
the Passaic river. The flesh of his fish appeared to be very 
soft. 

The horned chub abounds in large rivers and is rarely seen in 
small brooks. This minnow grows to a length of 10 inches and 
is good for food. As a bait for the black bass the young horned 
chub, because of its endurance on a hook, can not be excelled. 

Genus couesius Jordan 
Body elongate; head normal, not depressed, the profile con- 
vex; mouth terminal, normal, a well developed barbel on the 
anterior side of maxillary, just above its tip. Teeth 2, 4-4, 2, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 161 

hooked, without grinding surface. Scales rather small; lateral 
line continuous. Dorsal fin over or slightly behind ventrals; 
anal basis short. Size rather large. This genus is closely re- 
lated to the section Nocomis under Hybopsis, from 
which it may be separated by the presence of two teeth in the 
lesser row, by the position of the barbel, and by the smaller 
scales. Its relations with Semotilus are equally close. 
The species are not well known. (After Jordan) 

97 Couesius plumbeus (Agassiz) 
Lake Chub; Plumbeous Minnoiv; Morse Lake Minnow 

Gobio plumbeus Agassiz, Lake Superior, 366, 1850. 
Ceraticlitliys prostliemius Cope, Cypr. Penna. 365, pi. XI, fig. 4, 1866. 
Ceratichthys plumbeus Gunther, Cat. Fish, Brit. Mus. VII, 176, 1868. 
Couesius dissimilis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 218, 1883, 

in part. 
Couesius prostliemius Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 219, 1883; Mather, App. 

12th Rep. Adirondack Surv. 30, 1886. 
Couesius plumbeus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 323, 






Body moderately elongate and somewhat compressed; great- 
est depth four and one half to four and two thirds in total 
length without caudal, and equal to length of head; head rather 
flat above, not much raised above the level of the eyes; inter- 
orbital space nearly one and one half times long diameter of 
eye, which equals snout and is one fourth length of head; head 
four and one third in total without caudal; maxillary reaching 
to below front of orbit, a small barbel placed high at its tip, 
lower jaw well included. Scales small, smaller in advance of 
dorsal fin. Lateral line beginning high up on the nape, abruptly 
descending to the median line over the pectoral fin, and thence 
running nearly straight to the caudal fin. Dorsal origin mid- 
way between tip of snout and base of caudal fin, over middle of 
ventral base, longest ray two thirds of head, length of base one 
half of head; ventral scarcely longer than dorsal base, the fin 
not reaching vent; longest anal ray equal to ventral, base of 
anal two fifths of head; pectoral reaching to 18th scale of 
lateral line; caudal deeply forked, its upper lobe two ninths of 
total without caudal. D. 8; A. 8. Scales 13-65-8; teeth 2, 4-4, 



162 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

2. Brown above; sides somewhat silvery, abruptly separated 
from the dusky upper parts; snout and top of head back as far 
as hind border of eye, dusky; fins plain. Length 7 inches. 
Streams an$ lakes from Lake Superior east to the Adirondack 
region and Canada; more common northward. Here described 
from specimens from Beaver river, Herkimer co. N. Y., and Lake 
Lomond, near St John N. B. 

, Mather had specimens from Morse lake, in the Adirondacks, 
and it is reported also from Seventh lake, Fulton Chain. The 
species is known from Lake Superior east to the Adirondacks 
and New Brunswick. Agassiz had it from Lake Huron as well 
as Lake Superior. 

Genus exoglossum Rafinesque 

Body rather short and stout, subterete; lower jaw three- 
lobed, the dentary bones being close together and completely 
united, not forming a wide arch as in the minnows generally; 
upper jaw not protractile; pharyngeal bones small, the teeth 
hooked, and without grinding surface, 1, 4-4, 1. Scales moder- 
ate; lateral line complete. Dorsal origin is nearly over the be- 
ginning of the ventral; anal fin short; isthmus broad; gill rakers 
weak; pseudobranchiae present; air bladder normal; alimentary 
canal short; peritoneum white. Size large. No marked sexual 
peculiarities; the males with some black pigment in spring. 

98 Exoglossum maxillingua (Le Sueur) 
Cut-lips; Nigger Chub 

Cyprinus maxillingua Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 85, 1817, Pipe 

Creek, Maryland. 
Exoglossum annulatum Rafinesque, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 421, 1818, 

Hudson River. 
Exoglossum nigrescens Rafinesque, op. cit. I, 421, 1818. Lake Champlain. 
Exoglossum vittatum Rafinesque, op. cit. I, 421, 1818. Hudson River. 
Exoglossum maxillingua Agassiz, Amer. Jour. Sci. Arts, XIX, 215, 1855; Cope, 

Cypr. Penna. 360, pi. XI, fig. 1, 1866; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 

VII, 188, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 160, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 36, pi. 22, fig. 36, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 327, 189G, pi. LIV, fig. 140, head below. 

The cut-lips has a stout, short and thick body, its greatest 
bight nearly equal to the length of the head, and one fourth of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 163 

the total without caudal. The caudal peduncle is short and 
deep, its least depth about one half the head. The snout is 
short and obtusely conical, its length somewhat greater than 
the eye and nearly equal to one third of the head. The maxilla 
reaches to below the nostrils, its length equaling that of the 
snout. Head four and one fifth in total to base of caudal. The 
dorsal origin is nearly over the ventral origin and in the vertical 
through the 23d scale of the lateral line. The dorsal base is 
about one half as long as the head, and its longest ray equals 
twice the distance from the dorsal origin to middle of eye. The 
pectoral is about as long as the longest dorsal ray, and the 
ventral reaches to the anal origin. The base of the anal is one 
Tialf as long as the longest anal ray. The caudal is moderately 
forked. D. 8; A. 7. Scales 9-54-6; teeth 1, 4-4, 1. Length of 
specimen described, 4f inches; from Takoma Park D. 0. Color 
brown or olivaceous, darker above; a short and narrow dark 
l>ar above root of pectoral ; young with a dusky bar at the caudal 
l>ase. Fins dusky, their extremities pale. 

The cut-lips may be readily distinguished by the three-lobed 
lower jaw, the dentary bones being closely united and the lower 
lip represented by a fleshy lobe on each side of the mandible. 

The cut-lips is known also as chub, butter chub, nigger chub, 
and day chub. It is a very common species in the Susquehanna 
and its tributaries. Its range is not extensive, reaching only 
from western New York to Virginia. In New York it occurs 
in Lake Ontario, the St Lawrence, Lake Champlain, Cayuga lake, 
and the Hudson river. The U. S. Fish Commission has it from 
the following New York localities in the Lake Ontario basin: 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk. 

Big Sandy creek, Belleville. 

Wart creek, Buena Vista. 

Little Stony brook, Henderson bay. 

F>ig Stony creek, Henderson Harbor. 

Spring brook, Pulaski. 

Black river, Huntingtonville. 
• All of these were obtained in July, 1894. Evermann and Bean 
collected it also in the St Lawrence, 3 miles below Ogdensburg, 



164 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

July 17, 1894, and in Scioto creek, Coopersville and Saranae 
river, Plattsburg, July 19, 1894. 

Dr Meek found it in small numbers in Six Mile creek and Fall 
creek below the falls. It inhabits clear running water. 

The fish grows to the length of 6 inches and may be at once 

distinguished from all of the other minnows by its three-lobed 

lower jaw. It is believed that this singular structure of the 

mouth enables the fish to scrape mollusks from their hold on 

rocks, as its stomach usually contains small shellfish. It takes 

the hook readily. 

Genus carassius Nilsson 

This genus differs from Cyprinus in being without barbels; 
its pharyngeal teeth are compressed, in a single series, 4-4. 

Temperate Asia and Europe. Domesticated and degenerated 
into numerous varieties. (After Grunther) 

Pharyngeal teeth spatulate, four in a row on each side; 
mouth terminal, without barbels; base of the dorsal fin elon- 
gate; anal fin short; both fins with a spine which is serrated 
behind. (After Heckel and Kner) 

Body oblong, compressed and elevated; mouth terminal, with- 
out barbels; teeth 4-4, molar, but compressed; scales large; 
lateral line continuous; dorsal fin very long, with the third ray 
developed into a stout spine, which is serrated behind; anal 
short with a similar spine; ventrals well forward. (After 
Nilsson) 

99 Carassius auratus (Linnaeus) 

Goldfish (Introduced) 

Cyprinus auratus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 322, JL758; Cuvier & 
Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVI, 101, 1842; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, 
Fishes, 190, 1842; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 115, pi. XXI, fig. 1, 1867. 

Carassius auratus Bleeker, Syst. Cypr. rev. Ned. Tijdschr. Dierk. I, 255, 
1863; Atlas Ichth. Cypr. 74, 1863; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 
32, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 253, 1883; 
Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, pi. 231, 1884; Bean, Fishes Penna.. 
54, pi. 25, fig. 43, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Check List Fish. N. A. 
512, 1896. 

The body of the goldfish is oblong, stout, with the back ele- 
vated and compressed. Its depth at dorsal origin is contained 



I 

FISHES OF NEW YORK 165 

about two and one half times in the total length without the 
tail; the head is contained three and one third times in this 
length. The head is small in front of eye, being depressed on 
snout, and the dorsal profile from tip of snout to dorsal fin is 
very steep. The rather small eye equals one fifth or less of 
length of head. Mouth terminal, oblique, rather small, the 
maxilla not reaching the vertical from front of eye. No barbels. 
Teeth compressed, 4-4. The dorsal fin is high and long, com- 
mencing over the seventh scale of the lateral line and running 
back to near the caudal; its longest rays, first and second, a 
little longer than the spine, equal to one half of depth of body, 
or length of head from pupil to its posterior end. From the 
third to the last the rays gradually decrease in size, the last 
being less than half the length of the longest. The first dorsal 
spine is minute, one fourth the length of second, which is strong 
and coarsely serrated. The anal is short, the length of its base 
being but two thirds the length of its longest rays; first spine 
small, one third the length of second, which is stout and ser- 
rated. Pectoral fin broad and rounded, its length three fifths 
of that of head, or equal to longest anal ray. It reaches to 
ventral, which is placed well forward. Caudal fin large; scales 
large, deeper than long; lateral line median, complete, almost 
straight. D. II, 18; A. II, 7; V. 9. Scales 5-30-6. The specimen 
described is from the fish ponds, at Washington D. C. Length 
8 inches. 

The common goldfish or silverfish is a native of Asia, whence 
it was introduced into Europe and from there into America, 
where it is now one of the commonest aquarium fishes and is 
extremely abundant in many of our streams. In Pennsylvania 
it abounds in the Delaware and Schuylkill river. 

l)e Kay made the following remarks about the goldfish, or 
golden carp, as he styles it. 

The golden carp, or goldfish, as it is more generally called, 
was introduced from China into Europe in the early part of the 
17th century, and probably shortly after found its way to this 
country. They breed freely in ponds in this and the adjoining 
states. They are of no use as an article of food, but are kept 



166 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

in glass vases as an ornament to the parlor and drawing-room. 
They are said to display an attachment to their owners, and 
a limited obedience to their commands. 

They are introduced into lakes, ponds, fountains and reser- 
voirs generally. An individual was kept in a fountain at 42d 
street and 5th avenue, New York, by Patrick Walsh nine years, 
and was then presented to the aquarium. 

At the Cold Spring Harbor hatchery, L. I., several varieties 
were hatched from the same lot of eggs. These included the 
normal form, the typical fantail, and one which was so deep- 
bodied that it could scarcely balance itself in swimming. 

The goldfish in the New York aquarium were never troubled 
by fungus or parasites. 

In many of our streams and ponds, the goldfish has run 
wild, and hundreds of the olivaceous type will be secured to one 
of a red color. In the fauna of the moraine ponds and in quarry 
holes, the goldfish stands first. It will breed in foul water 
where only catfish and dogfish [Umbra] can be found. 
Eugene Smith 

The goldfish is extremely variable in color and form. It is 
usually orange, or mottled with black and orange, yet in some 
streams, and even in pond culture, silvery individuals are often 
more common than any of the mottled varieties. The species 
grows to the length of 12 inches. It spawns early in the spring 
and is subject to many dangers and is attacked by numerous 
enemies. The fish, however, is extremely hardy, prolific, and 
tenacious of life. 

Genus cyprinus Linnaeus 

Body robust, compressed, resembling that of the buffalo fish; 
mouth moderate, anterior, with four long barbels; snout blunt, 
rounded; teeth molar, broad and truncate, 1,*1, 3-3, 1, 1; scales 
large; lateral line continuous; dorsal fin very long, with a stout 
spine, serrated behind; anal fin short, also with a spine. Large 
fishes of the fresh waters of Asia; introduced into Europe and 
America as food fishes. It has been generally introduced into 
private ponds in nearly all parts of the United States; from 
these it has escaped into the streams and lakes, and is now an 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 167 

abundant fish in most of our larger, warmer rivers and in the 
ponds and bayous of the Mississippi valley. On the south shore 
of Lake Erie (and in the Mississippi near Quincy 111. and the 
Delaware river) it has become well established and is of con- 
siderable commercial importance. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

100 Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus 
Carp (Introduced) 

Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 320, 1758; Cuvier & Val- 
enciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVI, 23, 1842; De Kay, N. Y". Fauna, 
Fishes, 188, 1842; Heckel & Knee, Siissw. Fische, 54, fig. 21, 1858; 
Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 25, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 
16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 254, 1883; Goode, Fish. & Fish. IT. S. I, pi. 
230, Leather carp, 1884; American Fishes, 411, figure, 1888; Bean, 
Fishes Penna. 55, pi. 1, colored, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Check- 
List Fishes N. A. 512, 1896. 

The carp has a stout and moderately elongate body and a 
small head. The greatest depth equals one third of the length 
without the caudal fin. The length of the head is nearly one 
fourth of the total to the base of the tail. The caudal peduncle 
is about two fifths as deep as the body, and the caudal fin is 
strongly forked. The eye diameter is contained six and one 
half times in the length of the head. The mouth is moderate, 
the upper jaw not extending to front of eye. The dorsal begins 
at a distance from tip of snout equal to twice length of head; 
the length of its base equals twice length of pectoral; the long- 
est ray equals length of head without the snout; the last ray is 
two fifths as long as the head. The anal begins under the 15th 
ray of the dorsal; its longest ray is two thirds as long as the 
head and more than twice as long as the last ray; the length 
of its base is about two fifths of length of head. The ventral 
begins under the second ray of the dorsal; its length nearly 
equals longest dorsal ray. The pectoral is nearly one fifth of 
total length without the caudal. The long spines of the dorsal 
and anal are strongly serrate along their hinder edges. A bar- 
bel on the upper lip and another at the angle of the mouth on 
each side; the longest barbel about equal to diameter of eye. 
Three varieties are recognized, the scale, the mirror and the 



108 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

leather carp, based chiefly on the scaling of the body. The 
leather carp is nearly naked, and is said to be the best variety; 
the mirror carp has a few large scales irregularly placed; 
and the scale variety has the body completely scaled. The color 
is olivaceous, varying into dusky and blue. In the leather carp 
the lower parts are more or less suffused with yellowish. D. Ill, 
20; A. Ill, 5; V. I, 7; P. 15. Scales 5-38-5. 

The carp is a native of Asia and has been introduced into 
Europe and America as a food fish, chiefly for pond culture. It 
thrives in all warm and temperate parts of the United States 
and reaches its best condition in open waters. In Texas it has 
grown to a length of 23 inches in 11 months after planting. The 
leather variety is most hardy for transportation. Mr Hessel 
has taken the carp in the Black and Caspian seas; salt water 
seems not to be objectionable to it, and it will live in stagnant 
pools, though its flesh will be decidedly inferior in such waters. 
The carp hibernates in winter except in warm latitudes, takes 
no food and does not grow; its increase in size in temperate 
latitudes occurs only from May to August. 

Reproduction. The spawning season begins in May and con- 
tinues in some localities till August. A carp weighing 4 to 5 
pounds, according to Mr Hessel, yields from 400,000 to 500,000 
eggs; the scale carp contains rather more than the other varie- 
ties. During the spawning the fish frequently rise to the sur- 
face, the female accompanied by two or three males. The female 
drops the eggs at intervals during a period of some days or 
weeks in shallow water on aquatic plants. The eggs adhere 
in lumps to plants, twigs and stones. The hatching period 
varies from 12 to 16 days. 

Size. According to Hessel the average weight of a carp at 
three years is from 3 to 3J pounds; with abundance of food it 
will increase more rapidly in weight. The carp continues to 
add to its circumference till its 35th year, and in the southern 
parts of Europe Mr Hessel has seen individuals weighing 40 
pounds and measuring 3J feet in length and 2f feet in circum- 
ference. A carp weighing 67 pounds and with scales 2J inches 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 169 

in diameter was killed in the Danube in 1853. There is a record 
•of a giant specimen of 90 pounds from Lake Zug in Switzer- 
land. Examples weighing 24 pounds have been caught recently 
in the Potomac river at Washington D. C. 

Food. The carp lives principally on vegetable food, prefera- 
bly the seeds of water plants such as the water lilies, wild rice 
and water oats. It will eat lettuce, cabbage, soaked barley, 
wheat, rice, corn, insects and their larvae, worms and meats of 
various kinds. It can readily be caught with dough, grains of 
barley or wheat, worms, maggots, wasp larvae, and sometimes 
with pieces of beef or fish. 

During the summer of 1897 two female leather carp died in 
•captivity as a result of retention of the eggs. 

Large individuals are found in Prospect park lake, Brooklyn, 
where the species was introduced. The food of the fish in cap- 
tivity includes hard clam, earthworms, wheat, corn, lettuce and 
•cabbage. Its growth is remarkable. A leather carp has fully 
doubled its weight in one year. 

Linnaeus says the carp was introduced into England about 
the year 1600. De Kay places the first introduction into New 
York waters in the year 1831 and publishes a letter of Henry 
Rotrinson, Newburg, Orange co., who brought them from 
France, reared and bred them successfully in his ponds, and 
planted from one dozen to two dozen annually in the Hudson dur- 
ing the four years preceding his letter. Mr Robinson stated 
that they increased greatly and were frequently taken by fisher- 
men in their nets. 

Order APODES 

Eels 

Suborder exohjblycephali 

Family anguillidae 

True Eels 

Genus anguilla Shaw ^ 

Body elongate, subterete, compressed posteriorly, covered 

with small, linear, embedded scales which are placed obliquely, 

some of them at right angles to others; lateral line well devel- 



170 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

oped; head long, conical, pointed; eye small, well forward, over 
the angle of the mouth; teeth small, villiform, subequal, in bands 
on each jaw and a long patch on the vomer; tongue free at tip; 
lips rather full, with a free margin behind, attached by a frenum 
in front; lower j.aw projecting; gill openings rather small, slit- 
like, about as wide as base of pectorals and partly below them; 
nostrils superior, well separated, the anterior with a slight tube; 
vent close in front of anal; dorsal inserted at some distance 
from the head, confluent with the anal around the tail; pectorals 
well developed. Species found in most warm seas (the eastern. 
Pacific excepted) ascending streams, but mostly spawning in the 
sea. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

101 Anguilla chrysypa Rafinesque 
Eel 

Anguilla clirisypa Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 120, Dee. 1817. Lake 
George; Lake Champlain; Hudson River above the falls. 

Anguilla vulgaris Mitchill, Trans. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 360, 1815; 
Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, pi. 239, 1884. 

Muraena oostoniensis Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 81, 1821. 

Anguilla tyrannus Girard, Ichth. U. S. Mex. Bdy. Surv. 75, pi. 40, 1859. 

Anguilla blepliura Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 120, Dec. 1817. South 
shores of Long Island. 

Muraena rostrata Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 81, 1821. Oayuga 
Lake. 

Anguilla tenuivostris De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 310, pi. 53, fig. 173, 1842. 

Anguilla rostrata De Kay, op. cit. 312, 1842. Copied from Le Sueur. 
Lakes Cayuga and Geneva, N. Y.; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 361, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 95, pi. 30, fig. 58, 1893. 

Anguilla macrocepliala De Kay, op. cit. 313, 1842. After Le Sueur. Sara- 
toga Lake, N. Y. 

Anguilla oostoniensis Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 214, pi. XXXIII, fig. 1,1867. 

Anguilla ohrysypa Jordan & Davis, Rev. Apod. Fish. 668, 1892; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 348, 1896, pi. LV, fig. 143. 

In the eel the body is elongated, roundish throughout most of 
its extent, compressed behind. The scales are deeply embedded 
and very irregularly placed, some at right angles to others. 
The head is conical, elongated with pointed snout and small 
eye, except in the male. The lower jaw is longer than the 
upper. The jaws with small teeth in bands; a long patch of 
teeth on the vomer. The gill openings are partly below the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 171 

pectoral fins, small and slitlike. The beginning of the dorsal 
is at a distance of nearly twice the length of the head behind 
the gill opening. The anal begins still farther back, and the 
vent is close to its origin. The dorsal and anal fins are con- 
tinuous around the tail. Hight of body nearly two thirds the 
length of the head, which is contained about eight and one 
fourth times in the total. The distance from the gill opening 
to the vent equals two and one half times the length of the 
head. The color varies greatly, but is usually dark brown, more 
or less tinged with yellow; lower parts paler. In the male 
referred to the upper parts were silvery gray sharply separated 
from the satiny white of the abdomen. In the eel the lateral 
line is very distinct. 

The eel appears to have only one common name. It is one of 
the best known and most singular of our fishes, yet its breeding 
habits are even now enveloped in doubt. The species ascends 
the rivers of eastern North America from the Gulf of St Law- 
rence to Mexico, the former being the northern limit of the 
species on our coast. In the Ohio and Mississippi valleys it is 
extremely common, and its range has been much extended by the 
opening of canals and by artificial introduction. It has been 
transferred to the Pacific coast. 

The eel has been known to exceed a length of 4 feet. 
The average length of individuals however is about 2 feet. The 
female is larger than the male, paler in color, and is different 
in certain other particulars, which will be mentioned in the 
description of the species. 

This is a very important food fish. It is caught chiefly when 
descending the rivers in the fall. In 1869 about a ton of eels 
were caught in a single fish basket above Harrisburg. 
At the present time this method of capture is illegal. 
Both adults and young eels ascend the streams in 
spring, the young coming in millions, but in the fall 
run small eels are seldom seen. Till a comparatively recent 
date it was not certainly known that the eels have eggs which 
are developed outside of the body. Even now the breeding 



172 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

habits are unknown, but it is supposed that spawning takes 
place late in the fall or during the winter near the mouths of 
rivers on muddy bottoms. Dr Jordan has expressed the belief 
that the eel sometimes breeds in fresh water, since he has 
found young eels less than an inch long in the headwaters of 
the Alabama river, about 500 miles from the sea. It is esti- 
mated that a large eel contains about 9,000,000 eggs. The eggs 
are very small, measuring about 80 to the inch, and can scarcely 
be seen by the naked eye. 

The difference of size in the sexes has already been referred 
to. According to one writer the males are much smaller than 
the females, rarely exceeding 15 or 16 inches in length. The 
question whether eels will breed in fresh water has an impor- 
tant bearing on their introduction into places from which they 
can not reach the sea. The generally accepted belief is that, 
while the eels will grow large and fat, they will not reproduce 
under such circumstances. 

When the eels meet obstructions in streams, they will leave 
the water and travel through wet grass or over moist rocks. 
They have not been able to surmount the falls of Niagara. At 
the foot of this barrier hundreds of wagon loads of young eels 
have been seen crawling over the rocks in their efforts to reach 
the upper waters. 

Dr Mitchill heard of an eel, which was caught in one of the 
south bays of Long -Island, that weighed 16^ pounds. He 
records the use of eelpots and the practice of bobbing, and also 
the winter fishing by spearing. Dr Mitchill states distinctly that 
the ovaries of eels may be seen like those of other fish, but they 
are often mistaken for masses of fat. Dr DeKay states that he 
had examined the silver eel of the fishermen and was disposed 
to consider it only a variety of the common eel. He charac- 
terizes it as " silvery gray above, with a clear, satiny white 
abdomen, separated from the color above by the lateral line." 
We found eels moderately common in Great South bay late in 
September. At Bellport thousands of eelpots are employed, 
and these are fastened to stakes which are set in straight lines 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 173 

over a large extent of the bottom. These stakes project from 
four to six feet above the surface of the water. At Blue Point 
cove, Great Eiver beach and Fire Island we found five individuals 
of a kind of eel known to the fishermen as silver eel. These were 
taken between September 25 and October 7, and they were the 
only ones of the kind seen by us. They attracted attention at once, 
both on account of their colors, large eyes, short snouts and 
long pectoral fins, as compared with the common form., There 
is still some doubt in my mind as to whether this represents a 
distinct species or not. It may be the silver eel, A n g u i 1 1 a 
a r g e n t e a , of Le Sueur, which is described as silvery gray 
4ibove, separated from the silvery white abdomen by a distinct 
lateral line. But, to whatever species they may be referred, the 
greatest interest attaches to them because they have proved, 
on examination by Prof. John A. Ryder, to be males with the 
generative glands so well developed as to leave no doubt con- 
cerning the sex of the individuals. Prof. Ryder has published 
a report on these specimens, with figures showing sections of 
the syrskian organs, and announces the fact that the male eel 
has now been positively indentified from at least two points 
along our eastern coast, the other locality being Woods Hole 
Mass. He felt little doubt that, if the eels had been taken a 
few weeks later, ripe spermatozoa would have been found in 
them, and he considers it probable that the eggs are cast some 
time during the months of December or January. The speci- 
mens from Woods Hole were taken in November 1881, and they 
show slightly larger syrskian organs than in the Fire island 
specimens. 

In captivity eels live many years. They delight to lie buried 
in the mud or sand with only their heads out, ready for anything 
edible to come within reach. Mussels and snails are picked out 
of the shells by them. (After Eugene Smith 1 ) 

The eel in captivity is particularly liable to attacks of fungus, 
which do not always yield to treatment with salt or brackish 

x Linn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 29. 



174 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

water; but the parasite can be overcome by placing the eel in a 
poorly lighted tank. 

In Cayuga lake, N. Y., according to Dr Meek, the eel is not 
common, but is occasionally taken at each end of the lake. 

W. H. Ballou makes the following remarks about their feed- 
ing habits: 

They are among the most voracious and carnivorous 
fishes. They eat most inland fishes except the gar and the 
chub. . . They are particularly fond of game fishes, and show 
the delicate taste of a connoisseur in their selections from 
choice trout, bass, pickerel and shad. . . On their hunting 
excursions they overturn huge and small stones alike, working 
for hours if necessary, beneath which they find species of shrimp 
and crayfish, of which they are exceedingly fond. . . They are 
among the most powerful and rapid of swimmers. . . They 
attack the spawn of other fishes open-mouthed, and are even 
said to suck the eggs from an impaled female. . . They are owl- 
like in their habits, committing their depredations at night. 

Family leptocephalidae 

Conger Eels 

Genus leptocephalus (Gronow) Scopoli 

Body formed as in Anguilla; no scales; head depressed 
above, anteriorly pointed; lateral line present; mouth wide, its 
cleft extending at least to below middle of eye; teeth in outer 
series in each jaw equal and close set, forming a cutting edge, 
no canines, band of vomerine teeth short, tongue anteriorly 
free; vertical fins well developed, confluent around the tail, 
pectoral fins well developed, dorsal beginning close behind 
pectorals; gill openings rather large, low; eyes well developed; 
posterior nostril near eye, anterior near tip of snout, with a 
short tube; lower jaw not projecting. Skeleton differing in 
numerous respects from that of Anguilla. Vertebrae about 
56+100. In most warm seas. This genus contains the well 
known and widely distributed conger eel and three or four 
closely related species. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

Lateral line in a deep, pale furrow, decurved slightly from the 
head to below dorsal origin, very conspicuous pores in its 
anterior third.. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 175 

102 Leptocephalus conger (Linnaeus) 
Conger Eel; Sea Eel 

Muraena conger Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 245, 1758. 

Anguilla conger Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 360, 1815. 

Anguilla oceanica Mitchell, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 407, 1818, off New 
iYork. 

Conger occidentalis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 314, pi. 53, fig. 172, 1842, 
very poor. 

Conger vulgaris Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 38, 1870. 

Conger niger Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 362, 1883. 

Leptocephalus conger Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, pi. 240, 1884; Jor- 
dan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 354, 1896, pi. LVII, fig. 
148, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898. 

Dorsal fin begins opposite to or just behind tip of pectoral; 
eye one and one half in snout, five to six in head; snout three 
and one fourth to four and one fourth in head; gape extending 
nearly or quite to below hind margin of eve; head one and 
four fifths to one and six sevenths in trunk; tail longer than rest 
of body; pectorals three and one half in head; upper lip full, 
with conspicuous pores. Length of head one ninth of total 
length, depth of body two fifths length of head. Pores in lateral 
line very conspicuous. Color dark olive brown, sometimes 
nearly black, above; chin, space behind pectorals and lower parts 
soiled white. 

The conger eel occurs on both coasts of the Atlantic, on our 
coast extending from Cape Cod to Brazil, but not often coming 
into shallow bays. An exception is noted in Great Egg Harbor 
hay, where the fish is not rare in summer. It is sometimes 
caught in Gravesend bay also in summer, and occasional indi- 
viduals are captured on hand lines off Southampton L. I., by men 
fishing for sea bass and scup. The fishermen dislike to handle 
the species on account of its pugnacity and strength; it snaps 
viciously at everything near it when captured in our waters; 
yet, strangely enough, the writer has seen a hundred or more, 
taken on trawl lines off the north coast of France, in a boat at 
one time, and not one gave evidence of ferocity. 

In captivity in the aquarium the sea eel suffers severely from 
fungus attacks, which are not relieved by changing the fish from 
salt water to fresh. Perhaps the salinity of the water in some 



176 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

localities is too low, and relief might be obtained by supplying 
sea water of normal ocean density. 

The young and larval form of the conger is a curious, elongate, 
transparent, bandlike creature with a minute head, a very small 
mouth and with the lateral line, belly, and anal fin dotted with 
black points. 

An individual nearly 3 feet long was captured with a hand line 
by A. P. Latto in the ocean, near Southampton L. I. Aug. 3, 1898, 
while fishing for sea bass and scup. 

In the Woods Hole region, according to Dr Smith, " it comes 
in July and remains until fall; very common for several years, 
but rather rare formerly. Fishermen as a rule do not dis- 
tinguish it from the common eel. A few are taken in traps and 
with lines, but many large ones, weighing from 8 pounds 
upward, are caught in lobster pots. A specimen in the col- 
lection weighs 10 pounds. One caught on a line at Falmouth, 
Aug. 30, 1897, weighed 12 pounds. The smallest observed are 
15 to 20 inches long." 

Mitchill declared the flesh to be very dainty eating. DeKay 
said the flesh has a peculiar unsavory taste. He discovered that 
it is a vicious animal, snapping when captured at everything 
near it. In France the conger eel is among the cheapest and 
least esteemed of the food fishes. 

The observations of Dr Otto Hermes, director of the Berlin 
aquarium, on the habits and the reproduction of the conger eel 
are of very great interest. Keference is made to them by Go ode 
in Fish and Fishery Industries of the United States, § 1, p. 657, and 
two figures copied from drawings of Dr Hermes are given in the 
text. The ovary of the conger, says Dr Hermes, is developed 
in captivity, and this is often the cause of the death of the eel. 
In a conger which died in the Berlin aquarium the ovaries pro- 
truded very extensively, and a specimen in the Frankfort aqua- 
rium burst on account of the extraordinary development of the 
ovaries. The ovaries of this eel, which weighed 22^ pounds, 
themselves weighed 8 pounds, and the number of eggs was about 
3,300,000. The want of a natural opening for the escape of the 
eggs was evidently in this case, the cause of death. In the fall 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 177 

of 1879 Dr Hermes received a number of small sea eels taken in 

the vicinity of Havre. These eels ate greedily and grew rapidly. 

Only one was tardy in its development, so that it could easily 

be distinguished from the rest. This one died June 20, 1880, 

and was examined the same day. It proved to be a sexually 

mature male and served to clear up some very doubtful problems 

in the reproduction of the species, as well as its ally, the common 

eel. 

Order isospondyli 

Isospondylous Fishes 
Family elopidae 
Tarpons 
Genus tarpon Jordan & Evermann 
Body oblong, compressed, covered with very large, thick, 
silvery, cycloid scales; belly narrow, but not carinated, its edge 
with ordinary scales; mouth large, oblique, the lower jaw prom- 
inent, maxillary broad, extending beyond the eye; villiform teeth 
on jaws, vomer, palatines, tongue, sphenoid, and pterygoid bones; 
eye very large, with an adipose eyelid; lateral line nearly 
straight, its tubes radiating widely over the surface of the 
scales; branchiostegals 23; pseudobranchiae wanting; gill rakers 
long and slender; dorsal fin short and high, inserted behind the 
ventrals (over the ventrals in M e g a 1 o p s ) , its last ray elon- 
gate and filamentous asinMegalops, Dorosoma, and 
Opisthonema ; anal fin much longer than dorsal, falcate, 
its last ray produced; caudal widely forked; pectorals and 
ventrals rather long; anal with a sheath of scales; dorsal naked; 
caudal more or less scaly; a collar of large scales at the nape. 
Vertebrae about 57 (28+29). Size very large, the largest of the 
herringlike fishes. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

103 Tarpon atlanticus (Cuv. & Yal.) 
Tarpum; Tarpon; Grande Ecaille; Silver King 

Megalops atlanticus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIX, 39S,. 

1846. Guadaloupe. 
Megalops elongatns Gieaed, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 224, 1858, Long Island. 
Megalops thrissoides Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 472, 1868; Jordan 

& Gileert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 262, 1883; Goode, Fish & Fish. 

Ind. U. S. I, 610, pi. 217 B, 1884; American Fishes, 406, fig. 1888. . 



178 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Tarpon atlanticus Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 409, 1896; 
pi. LXYII, fig. 177, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. G. XVII, 90, 1898; 
Eveemann & Marsh, Fishes Porto Rico, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1900; 80, fig. 
10, 1900. 

Body elongate, compressed, not deep, its greatest hight about 
one fourth of total length without caudal. Length of head 
nearly equal to greatest hight of body. Mouth large, oblique, 
the lower jaw very prominent, the maxillary extending beyond 
the Yertical from hind margin of eye; eye moderately large, two 
thirds length of snout, two elevenths length of head; dorsal 
origin midway between tip of snout and end of middle caudal 
rays, dorsal base two fifths as long as head, dorsal filament 
nearly as long as the head; ventral origin midway between tip 
of snout and end of anal fin, the ventral fin two fifths as long 
as the head; base of anal three fourths as long as the head; 
pectoral fin as long as the longest ray of dorsal; caudal deeply 
forked, its longest rays equal to dorsal filament. Size large, 
weight reaching nearly 200 pounds and length 6 or 7 feet. Color 
silvery, darker above. I). Ill, 12; A. Ill, 23; P. 13; V. II, 9. 
Scales 12-47. 

The tarpon inhabits the western Atlantic from Cape Cod to 
Brazil and the West Indies, being rather uncommon northward, 
but abundant toward the south, ascending rivers in pursuit of 
smaller fishes on which it feeds. The species grows to the length 
of 7 feet and the weight of 150 pounds, or upward. It is not 
prized for food, but is now very celebrated as a game fish of 
great endurance and strength. The scales are an article of com- 
merce as curiosities. Fishermen dread the tarpon because it 
leaps through their nets with great violence, and the Pensacola 
seiners have known of persons being killed or severely injured 
by its leaping against them from the seine in which it was 
inclosed. As to the edible qualities of the flesh opinions differ, 
but the fact is that the species is seldom eaten. 

Girard had a specimen from Long Island which he described 
in 1858. Since that time it has been seen there occasionally. In 
the fall of 1898, Capt. H. E. Swezey reported to me that he found 
one about 4 feet long in Swan river at Patchogue. The fish was 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 179 

recently dead, and he believes it came into the river alive. In 
the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. it is now a regular summer 
visitor. According to Dr Smith, it is " taken every year in trap& 
at South Dartmouth, also occasionally at Quissett and at 
Menemsha, in latter part of September. All are about one size r 
80 to 100 pounds. Fishermen call them ' big scale fish.' An 
effort has been made to find a market for them in New Bedford,, 
but the people did not like them, owing to the toughness of the 
flesh." 

The tarpon evidently breeds at Porto Rico, as Evermann and 
Marsh collected a number of individuals measuring from 2J to 
3| inches at Fajardo in February 1899, these apparently being 
the first young of the species so far recorded. 
Genus elops Linnaeus 

Body elongate, subcylindric; scales small, silvery; head moder- 
ate; conical anteriorly, with very long jaws, the lower slightly 
included; branchiostegals 30; eye large and placed high; dorsal 
fin high in front, the last rays short, origin of fin about midway 
between tip of snout and end of middle caudal rays, the fin 
depressible into a scaly sheath; anal fin short, well behind end 
of dorsal, also depressible into a sheath; pectorals and ventrals 
each with a long appendage; caudal fin long and deeply forked; 
opercular bones thin, with expanded, membranaceous borders, 
a collar of scales on occiput; lateral line continuous, nearly 
straight, its tubes simple; large pseudobranchiae. Vertebrae 
43+29=72. Large fishes of the open seas. The young are ribbon- 
shaped, elongate, and pass through a series of metamorphoses 
similar to the changes observed in the congers. 

104 Elops saurus Linnaeus 
Big-eyed Herring 

Elops saurus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 518, 1766; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna, Fishes, 267, pi. 41, fig. 131, 1842; Jordan & Gilbert. Bull. 16, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 261, 1883; Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 611, pi. 

218, upper figure, 1884; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

410, 1896; pi. LXVII, fig. 178, 1900; Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

IX, 334, 1897; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 90, 1898; Bean, 521 Aim. 

Rep't N. Y. State Mus. 96, 1900; Evermann & Marsh, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

for 1900, 81, fig. 11, 1900. 
Elops inermis Mitchtll, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 445. 



180 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Body elongate, subcylindric, compressed toward the tail, its 
greatest depth contained from five to six times in its length 
without caudal; caudal peduncle slender, its least depth three 
eighths of length of head; head moderate, obtusely conical, its 
length four and one fourth to four and one half in total with- 
out caudal, flattened above, with a broad, deep furrow between 
the eyes; eye large, one fifth as long as the head; upper jaw 
broad, rounded, entire, longer than the lower, which is received 
into it, the maxillary reaching far behind eye, almost to hind 
edge of preopercle; the gular plate three or four times as long 
as broad. D. 20; A. 13; V. 15; B. 30. Scales 12-120-13. Length 
3 feet. Tropical and temperate seas; common in America, 
north to Virginia and the Gulf of California; occasional as far 
north as Cape Cod. Color bright silvery, with a greenish tinge 
along the back. Pupils black; iris golden; summit of the head 
bronzed; opercles with golden metallic tints; all the fins more 
or less punctate with black; dorsal and caudal light olive 
brown; lower fins tinged with yellow. 

Mitchill found some individuals in the New York market in 
September 1813,, under the name of salmon trout. One which 
he bought was 22 inches long and weighed 42 ounces. The fish 
were sold at 75c each, a remarkably good price for a species 
now generally considered unsalable because the flesh is dry and 
bony. 

An adult was caught in Gravesend bay Oct. 5, 1896. Among 
the fishermen there it is known as " seering " and " cisco ". 
Several examples, each about 1 foot long, were taken at South- 
ampton L. I. in October 1898, by A. P. Latto, and presented to 
the State Museum. 

At Cape Cod, according to Dr Smith, it is " common in fall, 
none appearing before October. Taken in traps in Vineyard 
sound and in herring gill nets at Vineyard Haven. Average 
length, 18 to 20 inches. No young observed." 

The fish does not breed on our coast. The young are known 
to be ribbon-shaped and elongate and to pass through a remark- 
able series of changes siniilar to those observed .in the ladyfish, 
Albula vulpes. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 181 

Family albulidae 

LadyfisJies 

Genus albila (Gronow) Bloch & Schneider 

Body rather elongate, little compressed', covered with rather 
small, brilliantly silvery scales; head naked; snout conical, sub- 
quadrangular, shaped like the snout of a pig, and overlapping 
the small, inferior, horizontal mouth; maxillary rather strong, 
short, with a distinct supplemental bone, slipping under the 
membranous edge of the very broad preorbital; premaxillaries 
short, not protractile; lateral margin of upper jaw formed by 
the maxillaries; both jaws, vomer, and palatines with bands of 
villiform teeth; broad patches of coarse, blunt, paved teeth on 
the tongue behind and on the sphenoid and pterygoid bones; 
eye large, median in head, with a bony ridge above it, and 
almost covered with an annular adipose eyelid; opercle mod- 
erate, firm, preopercle with a broad, fiat, membranaceous edge, 
which extends backward over the base of the opercle; pseudo- 
branchiae present; gill rakers short, tuberclelike; gill mem- 
branes entirely separate, free from the isthmus; branchiostegals 
about 14; a fold of skin across gill membranes anteriorly, its 
posterior free edge crenate; no gular plate; lateral line present; 
belly not carinate, flatfish, covered with ordinary scales; dorsal 
fin moderate, in front of ventrals, its membranes scaly; no 
adipose fin; anal very small; caudal widely forked; pyloric caeca 
numerous; parietal bones meeting along top of head. Verte- 
brae numerous, 42+28=70. A single species known, found in 
all warm seas. In this, and probably in related families, the 
young pass through a metamorphosis, analogous to that seen 
in the conger eels. They are for a time elongate, band-shaped, 
with very small head and loose transparent tissues. From this 
condition they become gradually shorter and more compact, 
shrinking from 3 or 3^ inches in length to 2 inches. According 
to Dr Gilbert, this process, like that seen in various eels, is a 
normal one, through which all individuals pass. In the Gulf 
of California, where these fishes abound, these band-shaped 
young are often thrown by the waves on the beach in great 
masses. (After Jordan and Evermann) 



182 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

105 Albula vulpes (Linnaeus) 
Lady fish; Bone Fish; Banana Fish 

Esox vulpes Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 313, 1758. 

Butirinus vulpes De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 268, 1842, name only. 

Albula Parrae Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIX, 339, 184&- 

Albula erythroclieilos Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. 352, pi. 574, 1846. 

Albula couorliynclws Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 468, 1868. 

Albula vulpes Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus, 258, 1883; Goode^ 
Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 612, pi. 218, lower fig. 1884; Bean, 19th Rep" 
Comm. Fish. N. Y. Separate, 42, pi. XXIII, fig. 31, 1800; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 411, 1806, pi. LXVIII, fig. 179,. 
1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 91, 1898; Evermann & Marsh! 
Bull. U. S. F. C. for 1900, 82, fig. 12, 1900. 

Body fusiform, elongate, rounded, its greatest depth, at dorsal 
origin, contained four and two thirds times in total length to 
base of caudal fin and equal to distance from posterior nostril 
to end of head; caudal peduncle rather slender, its least depths 
about one third of greatest depth of body; head long, conical, 
the snout rather acutely pointed, length of head about three 
and two thirds in total; eye moderate, one half of snout, one 
fifth of head, placed high; mouth inferior, small, the maxilla, 
not reaching to below front of eye; collar of enlarged scales on 
the nape extending down to the base of the pectoral; dorsal 
origin about midway between tip of snout and base of caudal,, 
the base of the fin a little more than one half the length of 
head, the longest ray as long as the head without the snout, the 
last ray one third as long as the longest. The pectoral reaches 
to below the 15th scale of the lateral line. The ventral origin 
is under the 32d scale of the lateral line; the fin three eighths 
as long as the head. Anal origin equally distant from base of 
caudal fin and end of ventral base, the longest ray one third 
as long as head, the last ray less than one half as long as the 
longest; caudal fin long, deeply forked, the outer rays equal in. 
length to hight of body. D. Ill, 14; A. I, 8; V. 1, 10. Scales 8- 
75-8. Bright silvery; upper parts olivaceous; fins pale; axils of 
pectorals and ventrals dusky. Size large, length reaching 3 
feet. 

Tropical seas, on sandy coasts, on our coasts ranging north- 
ward to Cape Cod and San Diego. A valuable food fish, but 



FISHES OF NEW YORE 183 

Tiot esteemed in northern waters. Highly prized at Key West 
and the Bermudas; not much in favor at Porto Rico. 

The ladyfish is found on our coast from Cape Cod to the Gulf 
of Mexico. It also occurs in the Bermudas and West Indies. 
The Bermuda names are bony fish and grubber. It is considered 
an excellent food fish on these islands, and Dr Goode testifies 
from personal experience to its value as an edible species. At 
Oozumel, off the coast of Yucatan, it is highly esteemed. On 
our coast it is occasionally found as far north as Cape Cod. 

The ladyfish is not described by either Mitchill or DeKay as 
one of the fishes of New York; and I did not see it in Great South 
bay, but it was taken later in the fall by Capt. Lewis B. Thurber, 
of Patchogue, who forwarded it to me. 

Dr Smith says it is very rare at Woods Hole Mass. where it 
was reported by Prof. Baird in 1871. Since 1871 it has been 
observed only once or twice, and none has been taken for many 
vears. 

Family hiodontidae 

Mooneyes 

Genus hiodon Le Sueur 

In the mooneyes the body is oblong, compressed, covered with 
cycloid silvery scales of moderate size. Head short, naked, with 
obtuse snout and no barbels. The mouth is terminal, of mod- 
erate size; jaws subequal. The margin of the jaw is formed by 
the nonprotractile intermaxillaries and the slender maxillaries, 
which are articulated to the end of the intermaxillaries. The 
opercular apparatus is complete. Intermaxillary and mandible 
with small cardiform teeth, wide set; feeble teeth on the maxil- 
laries; a row of marginal teeth on the tongue, those in front 
very strong canines; a band of short close set teeth on middle 
of tongue; vomerine teeth small, close set, in a long double 
series; teeth on the palatine, sphenoid and pterj^goid bones. 
The lower jaw is received within the upper so that the mandi- 
bulary teeth are opposite to those on the palatine bone. The 
very large eye has a little developed adipose eyelid. Nostrils 
large, close together, with a flap between them; gill membranes 



184 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

deeply cleft, free from isthmus, their base covered by a fold of 
skin; branchiostegals 8 to 10; no pseudobranehiae; gill rakers* 
short, thick and few in numbers; a straight and well developed 
lateral line; belly without scutes; no adipose fin; dorsal fin over 
the caudal part of the vertebral column; anal long and low; 
ventrals large; caudal deeply forked; stomach horseshoe-shaped, 
with blind sac; intestine short; one pyloric appendage; air 
bladder large and simple. The eggs fall into the abdominal 
cavity before exclusion. 

106 Hiodon tergisus (Le Sueur) 
Mooneye; Toothed Herring 

Hiodon tergisns Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 366, Sept. 1818, Ohio- 
River and Lake Erie. 
Hiodon clodalus Le Sueur, op. cit. 367, Sept. 1818, Pittsburg. 
Glossodon harengoides Rafinesque, Anier. Month. Mag. Ill, 354, Sept. 1818, 

Ohio River. 
Cyprinas (Abramis ?) Smithii Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 110, fig. 

1836. 
Hyodon tergisus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 265, pi. 41, fig. 130; Guvier. 

& Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIX, pi. 572, 1846; Gunther, Oat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus, VII, 375, 1868; Jordan & Gileert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 260, 1883; Goode, Fish & Fish. Incl. U. S. I, 613, pi. 219, 1884. 
Hyodon clodalis De Kay, op. cit. 266, 1842, but fig. 164, pi. 51, represents 

alosoides. 
Hyodon claudalus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIX, 313. 
Hyodon tergisus Bean, Fishes Penna. 57, pi. 25, fig, 44 (named alosoides),. 

1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 413, 1896, pi. 

LXVIII, fig. 180, 19€0. 

The shape of the body is similar to that of the northern moon- 
eye. The belly has a slight but obtuse keel in front of the ven- 
trals and is compressed to a rather sharp edge behind the 
ventrals. Head short, its length two ninths of total without 
caudal; the eye much longer, about one third the length of head. 
The greatest depth of the body is nearly one third of total 
length. The pectoral is as long as the head without the snout; 
the ventral not much more than two thirds the length of head, 
its origin under the 18th scale of the lateral line. The anal 
origin is under the 7th developed ray of the dorsal. The longest 
anal ray is less than one half the head. The anal base is as 
long as the head; its last ray is less than one half the longest 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 185 

ray. The anal has a deep notch. The longest dorsal ray is little 
more than length of dorsal base. The last ray is not much more 
than one half the longest. The caudal is deeply forked. D. 12; 
A. 28 to 32. Scales 6-58-8. Upper parts greenish in life, the 
sides and abdomen brilliant silvery. 

This species is called mooneye, toothed herring and silver 
bass. It is found in Canada, the Great lakes region and the 
upper part of the Mississippi valley, being very common in large 
streams and lakes. It abounds in Lake Erie and the Ohio and 
is seined in large numbers. DeKay observed the fish in the 
Allegheny river, N. Y. He records it also from Buffalo and 
Barcelona, on Lake Erie, at which places it is known as mooneye, 
shiner, and lake herring. He says it is very indifferent food. 

This species grows to a length of 1 foot and, like the other, 
though a beautiful fish and possessed of excellent game quali- 
ties, its flesh is full 'of small bones. It is a good fish for the 
aquarium ; it will take a minnow or the artificial fly very readily, 
and the utmost skill is required in its capture. Its food con- 
sists of insects, small fishes and crustaceans. 

Dr Richardson describes this fish as a member of the minnow 
family, which he says is known to the Canadians under the 
name la quesche. The fish is described as having the back bril- 
liant green, sides and abdomen with a silvery luster. The 
specimens which were taken in the Richelieu, where it falls into 
the St Lawrence, were about 9 or 10 inches long. 

107 Hiodon alosoides (Rafinesque) 
'Northern Mooneye; La Quesche 

Amphiodon alosoides Rafinesque, Jour. Phys. Paris, 421, 1819. Ohio River. 

Hyodon amphiodon Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 42, 1820. 

Hiodon chrysopsis Richardson, Fauna B or.- Airier. Ill, 232, 1836. 

Hyodon alosoides Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 259, 18S3; 
Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 612, 1884. 

Hiodon alosoides Bean, Fishes Penna. 57, 1893 (not figured); Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 413, 1896. 

Hyodon clodalis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, pi. 51, fig. 164, not descrip- 
tion, 1842. 

Body deep, much compressed, its greatest depth equaling two 
sevenths of the total without caudal. The head is short, con- 



186 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

taining the length of the eye about three and one half times 
and equaling a little more than one fifth of the total without 
caudal. The snout is very blunt, the mouth large and oblique, 
the maxilla reaching beyond the middle of the eye. There is 
a well developed keel along the entire length of the belly. D. 9 ; 
A. 32. Scales 6-56-7. 

The general color is bluish silvery on the sides with golden 
reflections. 

The northern mooneye is found from the Ohio river through- 
out the Great lakes region to the Saskatchewan. It is very com 
mon in Manitoba and other parts of British America. In Penn- 
sylvania it is limited to the western region. 

De Kay must have had the northern mooneye for study, 
though his description seems to apply to another species. The 
figure of his Hyodon clodalis represents a fish with a 
short dorsal fin, quite unlike his account in the text. 

The northern mooneye is very readily distinguished from the 
other species of the genus by its short dorsal fin, which con- 
tains only nine rays, and by its carinated belly. It grows to 
the length of 1 foot. The flesh is not greatly esteemed as a rule, 
but the fish is beautiful and has excellent game qualities. 

Eichardson says the fish inhabits lakes which communicate 
with the Saskatchewan, in the 53d and 54th parallels of lati- 
tude, but does not approach nearer to Hudson bay than Lake 
Winnipeg. This we know to ibe a mistake. He says further 
that it is taken during the summer months only, and in small 
numbers, in gill nets set for other fish. It bites eagerly at an 
artificial fly or worm. Its flesh is white, resembling that of the 
perch in flavor, and excelling it in richness. 

Family dorosomidae 

Gizzard Shads 

Genus dorosoma Rafinesque 

The genus Dorosoma has a herringlike body, with a 

short and obtuse snout. The body is much compressed and is 

covered with moderately large, thin, cycloid scales. The head 

is scaleless, short and small; the eye large and provided with 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 187 

an adipose eyelid. The belly is compressed to an edge, which 
is armed with sharp serratures. Mouth small, transverse; the 
lower jaw the shorter, jaws toothless. The maxilla does not 
extend to the middle of the eye. Gill rakers numerous, mod- 
erately long and slender; gill membranes deeply cleft and free 
from the isthmus; pseudobranchiae well developed; lateral line 
wanting. The dorsal fin is placed nearly over the middle of the 
body, slightly behind the origin of the ventral. Its last ray is 
produced into a long filament. The pectorals and ventrals are 
rather long and each is provided with an appendage formed 
of several elongate, overlapping accessory scales. The caudal 
is deeply forked. Anal very long, its last rays low. The stomach 
is stout and short, resembling the gizzard of a hen. 

108 Dorosoma cepedianum (Le Sueur) 
Gizzard Shad 

llegalops cepediana Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 361, Sept. 1818. 

(Baltimore and Philadelphia markets). 
€lupea Jieterurus Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. Ill, 355, Sept. 1818. 

Ohio River. 
Dorosoma notata Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 40, 1820. Ohio River. 
€liatoessus cepedianns .and ellipticus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 265, 1842, 

as extra-limital. 
€hatoessus ellipticus Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 235, pi. X. fig. 1, 

1844. 
Chatoessus cepedianus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XXI, 90, 

pi. 612,* 1848. New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans; Gunther, Cat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 409, 1868. 
Dorosoma cepedianum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 271, 

1883; Goode, Fish. & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 610, pi. 217 A, 1884; Bean, 

Fishes Penna. 63, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

416, 1896, pi. LXIX, fig. 183, 1900. 

The depth of the body is contained two and two thirds times 
in the total without caudal, the length of the head four and 
one third times. Eye longer than snout, one fourth length of 
head. The third ray of the dorsal is two thirds as long as the 
head, and the filamentous ray nearly equals the head in length. 
Length of dorsal base about one half that of head; anal base 
two sevenths of total length of body without caudal, its longest 
ray two thirds of length of ventral or one third of that of head. 
Pectoral three fourths as long as head. Lower caudal lobe 



1SS NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

longer than upper, its length equal to that of the head. D. iii y . 
10; A. ii, 31. Scales 56 to 64, about 20 in a transverse series. 
Scutes in front of ventrals 17, and from ventral to vent 12. 
Upper parts bluish; sides silvery, sometimes with golden reflec- 
tions. In young individuals there is a large dark blotch on 
each side not far behind the head. This disappears with age. 

The mud shad, also known as gizzard shad, winter shad, stink 
shad, white-eyed shad, hickory shad, hairy back, and thread 
herring, is found in brackish waters along the coast from New 
York southward to Mexico, ascending streams and frequently 
becoming landlocked in ponds. A variety of this fish is also 
common in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys, whence it has- 
spread through canals into Lakes Erie and Michigan. 

Cuvier and Valenciennes had the species from New York, 
whence it was sent by Milbert. De Kay mentions it only as an 
extralimital fish; but in his time the fish fauna of Lake Erie 
was very little known. 

This fish grows to a length of 15 inches and a weight of 2 
pounds. It spawns in summer, and its food consists of algae, 
confervae, desmids and diatoms. With its food it takes large 
quantities of mud, from which it separates the organic sub- 
stances after swallowing. This is a beautiful species, some- 
what resembling the shad in general appearance and has been 
very successfully kept in the aquarium, where its bright colors 
and graceful movements make it attractive, but its flesh is soft, 
tasteless and seldom eaten when any better can be obtained. 
In most regions fishermen consider it a great nuisance and 
throw away their entire catch. Negroes eat the mud shad from 
tributaries of the Chesapeake, and in Florida the fish has been 
utilized to some extent in making guano. The name gizzard 
shad alludes to the form of the stomach, which is very much 
like that of a hen. 

Family clupeidae 
Herrings 

Body oblong or elongate, more or less compressed, covered 
with cycloid or pectinated scales; belly sometimes rounded, 
sometimes compressed, in which case it is often armed witb 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 189 

bony serratures; head naked, usually compressed; mouth rather 
large, terminal, the jaws about equal, maxillaries forming the 
lateral margins of the upper jaw, each composed of about three 
pieces ; premaxillaries not protractile ; teeth mostly small, often 
feeble or wanting, variously arranged; adipose eyelid present 
or absent; gill rakers long and slender, gill membranes not con- 
nected, free from the isthmus; no gular plate; gills four, a slit 
behind the fourth; branchiostegals usually few (6 to 15); 
posterior lower part of opercular region often with an angular 
emargination, the tips of the larger branchiostegals being 
abruptly truncate; pseudobranchiae present; no lateral line. 
Dorsal fin median or somewhat posterior, rarely wanting; no 
adipose fin; ventrals moderate or small (wanting in Pristi- 
gaster); anal usually rather long; caudal fin forked. Verte- 
brae 40 to 56. Genera about 30; species 150; inhabiting all 
seas, and usually swimming in immense schools; many species 
ascend fresh waters, and some remain there permanently. The 
northern and fresh-water species, as in many other families, 
differ from the tropical forms in having a larger number of 
vertebral segments. 

Genus etrumeus Bleeker 
Body rather elongate, somewhat compressed; the abdomen 
rounded and without serratures; mouth terminal, of moderate 
width, formed as in C 1 u p e a , but the maxillary more slender; 
teeth moderate, in patches on jaws, palatines, pterygoids, and 
tongue; scales cycloid, entire, very deciduous; branchiostegals 
numerous, very slender. Ventrals inserted posteriorly, entirely 
behind dorsal; the dorsal fin rather long, of 18 to 20 rays; anal 
low, of moderate length. Pseudobranchiae well developed; 
pyloric caeca numerous. No silvery lateral stripe. Few spec'es. 
Asiatic and American. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

109 Etrumeus teres (De Kay) 
Round Herring 

Alosa teres De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 262, pi. 40, fig. 128, 1842. New 

York harbor. 
Etrumeus teres Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 467, 1868; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 263, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

VII, 148, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. separate, 44, 1890. 
Etrumeus sadina Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 420, 1896, 

not Clupea sadina Mitchill; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 91, 1898.. 



190 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Body slender, rounded, elongate, its greatest depth one sixth 
of total length without caudal; head rather long, one fourth of 
total without caudal; mouth small, the jaws subequal in front, 
the maxilla extending to or slightly beyond the front of the 
eye; the mandible not at all projecting when the mouth is 
closed, but rather included; thickness of body more than two 
thirds of its depth; vomerine teeth present, lingual teeth well 
developed, teeth in the jaws weak; eye large, equal to snout, 
three and one third in length of head; dorsal origin midway 
between tip of snout and origin of anal, the longest dorsal ray 
more than one half length of head; ventrals well behind dorsal, 
the length little more than one third length of head; anal basis 
short, about one third length of head; axillary scales above 
pectorals and ventrals very long, those over the pectoral more 
than one half as long as the fin. D. 18; A. 13. Color, bright 
silvery; darker above, with a tinge of blue and yellow on the 
sides. Head metallic silvery with coppery reflections; iris 
golden; dorsal and caudal tinged with yellow, the remaining 
fins translucent, with minute dark specks. Cape Cod to the 
Oulf of Mexico, not rare southward; a favorite food of bluefish. 

The " New York shadine " of Mitchill can not be identified 
with this species ; it was evidently a species of Pomolobus 
bearing a close resemblance to the shad. Mitchill's shadine 
had a spot behind the gill cover, a wide and toothless mouth, 
a projecting lower jaw and 15 anal rays. These characters are 
in opposition to the known characters of the round herring, 
.and there is no probability that this little fish was before him 
for description. De Kay saw only a single specimen of the 
round herring from the harbor of New York. A copy of 
Mitchill's 1 description is here given for comparison. 

13 New York Shadine, Olupea s a d i n a 

An elegant species with a small smutty spot behind the gill 
cover; but with neither spots nor stripes on its back or sides. 
Mouth wide and toothless. Tongue small. 

Back delicately variegated with green and blue. Lateral line 
straight. Sides silvery white, considerably above that line; and 

1 Mitchill. Lit. and Phil Soc. N. Y. Trans. 1815. 1:457. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 191 

below it quite to the belly. The white reflects vividly green, 
red, and other splendid hues. Head rather elongated. Lower 
jaw projecting. 

Scales very easily deciduous. Form neat, taper, and slender. 
Gills rise into the throat on each side of the root of the tongue. 
Eyes pale and large. Tail deeply forked. On account of the 
even connection of the false ribs, the belly is not at all serrated, 
but quite smooth. A semitransparent space in front of the eyes 
from side to side. 

Rays: Br. 7; P. 16; Y. 9; D. 18; A. 15; C. 19. 

This species was not taken in Great South bay, but on the 
ocean beach adjacent to the Blue Point lifesaving station. 

It is the slender herring described by Dr DeKay from a single 
specimen taken with a seine in New York harbor in the latter 
part of October. He found it associated with numerous speci- 
mens of the big-eyed herring, Elops saurus. DeKay states 
that the Elops appeared to be known to the fishermen as the 
round herring, but the name is more applicable to the little 
species now under consideration. Several specimens were 
seined on the ocean beach at Blue Point Lifesaving station, Octo- 
ber 7. None were obtained in the bay. September 24, 51 exam- 
ples of this fish were found lying on the beach, in the vicinity of 
the same station, having been driven ashore by bluefish. In 
August 1890 great schools of round herring were stranded in 
this way. Prof. Baird found a number of specimens along the 
beach of Great Egg Harbor bay in 1854, and a single specimen 
was seined by Capt. Thomas Steelman in the same locality in 
October 1887. 

Young individuals, from 4J to 4f inches long, were taken in 
Gravesend bay July 30, 1896. They were associated with young 
mackerel, of slightly larger size, in bunches and schools. John 
B. DeNyse saw some schools that he estimated to contain 25,000 
fish. 

Dr Smith says it is apparently rare at Woods Hole ; known to 
have been found on only a few occasions. In October, some 
years ago, several were taken in traps at Menemsha bight, 
Marthas Yineyard. 



192 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Genus clipea (Artedi) Linnaeus 

True herrings with the body elongate, numerous vertebrae, 
the ventral serratures weak, and an ovate patch of small but 
persistent teeth on the vomer. The few species belong to the 
northern seas, where the number of individuals is inordinately 
great, exceeding perhaps those of any other genus of fishes. 
Not anadromous, spawning in the sea. 

The genus C 1 u p e a, which includes the shad, river alewif e 
or herring and the Ohio golden shad or skipjack, admits of division 
into several subgenera, one of which includes the common sea 
herring and other marine species, another the shad and still 
another the river alewives. The last have the suborbital bone 
longer than deep and are supplied with teeth on the tongue and 
in some species in the jaws. 

110 Clupea harengus Linnaeus 
Sea Herrmg 

Clupea liarengus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 317, 1758; Mitchill, 
Amer. Month. Mag. II, 323, Mar. 1818; Guvier & Valenciennes, 
Hist. Nat. Poiss. XX, 30, pi. 591, 1847; Gunther, Gat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 
VII, 415, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat." Mus. 265, 1883; 
Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 549, pi. 204, 1884; Bean, 19th 
Rep. Comrn. Fish. N. Y. separate, 42, pi. XXIV, fig. 32, 1890; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 421, 1896, pi. LXX, fig. 185, 
1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. G. XVII, 91, 1898. 

Clupea Jialec Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 451, 1815. 

Clupea pusilla Mitchill, op. eit. 452, 1815. 

Clupea coerulea Mitchill, op. cit. 457, 1815. 

Clupea elongata De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 250, 1842; Storer, Hist. 
Fish. Mass. 152, pi. XXVI, fig. 1, 1867. 

Body elongate, slender, fusiform, compressed, its greatest 
depth one fourth of total length without caudal; caudal pedun- 
cle slender, its least depth one third of length of head; head 
moderate, two ninths of total length without caudal; eye large, 
three and one half to four in head, and with a well developed 
adipose eyelid; lower jaw strongly projecting; maxilla reaching 
to below middle of pupil, its length three sevenths of length of 
head; cheeks longer than high; an ovate patch of small teeth 
on vomer, palatine teeth minute or wanting, small teeth on the 
tongue, small teeth in the jaws in young examples, usually dis- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 193 

^appearing with age; gill rakers very long and slender, about 40 
on the lower part of the first arch; dorsal origin midway 
between tip of snout and end of scales, dorsal base one eighth 
of total length without caudal, longest dorsal ray equal to pos- 
torbital part of head, last dorsal ray one half the length of 
longest; ventral under about middle of dorsal, its length three 
eighths of head; anal base a little shorter than dorsal base, its 
longest ray one fifth, and its shortest ray one tenth of greatest 
depth of body; caudal fin well forked, its longest rays three 
fourths of head; pectoral fin about two thirds as long as the 
head. Scales very deciduous. Abdomen with weak serratures, 
"before and behind the ventrals, 28 scutes in front of and 13 
behind the ventrals. D. 18; A. 17. Scales 14-57. Vertebrae 
56. Peritoneum dusky; back and head deep blue, tinged with 
vellow; opercles yellowish, tinged with violet; iris silvery; sides 
silvery with bright reflections. Length 12 to 17 inches. North 
Atlantic ocean, on our east coast south to Cape Hatteras, 
spawning in the sea. 

The sea herring is the most important food fish of the world 
.and it is undoubtedly the most abundant of all the fishes. Its 
food consists of small invertebrates, chiefly copepods and the 
larvae of worms and mollusks. It forms the most important 
food of many of our valuable food fishes inducing the cod, had- 
dock, halibut, bluefish, and a great many others. Herring 
spawn at two seasons, spring and fall, the fi st spawning con- 
tinuing from April to June and the second season between July 
and December. The eggs are adhesive and are deposited on 
the bottom, where they adhere to seaweeds and other objects 
of support. The egg is about 2 ~6 inch in diameter. The hatch- 
ing period lasts from 12 days to 40 days, according to the tem- 
perature of the water. Sea herrings were artificially hatched 
as early as 1878, both in Germany and in the United States. It 
has been estimated that the annual yield of sea herring is 
5,000,000,000 fish, principally taken in Norway. 

The herring occurs on our east coast from Labrador to New 
York. When found as far south as New York, it usually occurs 



194: NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

in midwinter. Capt. Thurber obtained it in Great South bay in 
the fall. 

The young of the sea herring is well known as the whitebait 
of England and the United States, though in the latter country 
the young of other species are sometimes mingled with those of 
the sea herring. 

Many young, translucent fish of the genus C 1 u p e a , a little 
under 2 inches long, are seen in spring in the shad fykes and 
pounds of Gravesend bay. They are called " shad bait," because 
they are said to be taken frequently from shad stomachs. John 
B. De Nyse brought some of them to me for examination Ap. 30, 
1896. They showed the following characters. 

D. 18; A. 17. Muscular impressions along sides of body about 
60. The ventral is very slightly in advance of the origin of the 
dorsal. Intestinal tract full of minute orange-colored sub- 
stances resembling entomostraca. A row of black dots on sides, 
low down, extending from pectoral to anal. Iris silvery; top of 
eye very dark. 

Large sea herring, according to W. I. De Nyse, are rare in 
Gravesend bay. Only about 100 or 200 are obtained there dur- 
ing fall and winter. 

Young examples, from 4f to 6 inches long, were obtained in 
that bay Nov. 23, 1897. 

In the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, 
schools of large herring, in a spawning condition, appear about 
October 15 and remain till very cold weather sets in, their depar- 
ture corresponding with that of the cod. By January young her- 
ring J inch long are taken in surface tow nets; by May 1 they are 
1 to 1J inches long, and by August 1, 2| to 3 inches. Fish 3 to 5 
inches long, called " sperling," are found from September 1 to end 
of season and are used for mackerel bait. About June 1 there is 
a large run of herring, smaller than those in the fall run. This 
lasts two weeks, during which the traps are full of them. No 
use is made of the early run, but in fall they are caught in gill 
nets for food and bait. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 195 

Genus pomolobus Rafinesque 
Body oblong, more or less compressed; mouth moderate, 
terminal, the jaws about equal, or the lower projecting, the 
upper scarcely notched at tip; teeth feeble, variously placed, 
probably never wholly absent, mandibles very deep at base, 
shutting within the maxillaries; gill rakers more or less long 
and slender, numerous; adipose eyelid present; scales thin, 
cycloid, deciduous, entire, rounded posteriorly; cheeks with the 
free part longer than deep; dorsal fin rather short, nearly 
median, beginning in advance of ventral s, its posterior ray not 
prolonged in a filament; ventral present; anal moderate; belly 
compressed, strongly serrated before and behind ventrals. 
Flesh rather dry and poor, less oily than in Clupanodon. 
Vertebrae 46 to 55 in number, usually 50. Species numerous, 
mostly anadromous. 

Ill Pomolobus chrysochloris Rafinesque 
Skipjack; Blue Herring ; Gold Shad 

Pomolobus chrysochloris Rafixesque, Ichth. Ohien. 39, 1820. Ohio River; 

Joedax & Evermawn, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 425, 1896, pi. LXX, 

fig. 187, 1900. 
MeJetta suoerii Guvier & Valexciexnes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XX, 375, 1847. 
Alma chrysocliloris Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 307, pi. XV, fig. 3. 

1844. 
Clupea clwysochlwis Joedan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 266. .1883; 

Goode, Fish & Pish. Iud. IT. S. I, 594, pi. 211, 1884; Bean, Fishes 

Penna. 59, 1893. 

This species has a few strong and distinct teeth in the jaws, 
the lower jaw strongly projecting, the caudal peduncle stout 
and the belly strongly serrated. In shape the body resembles 
that of the sea herring; it is compressed, rather low, its depth 
slightly more than one fourth of the total length without caudal 
and about equal to the length of the head. The eye is large, 
nearly one fourth the length of head; the maxilla extends nearly 
to the hind margin of the eye; the length of the upper jaw is 
more than one half the length of head. The origin of the dorsal 
is over the ninth series of scales, and the length of its base 
corresponds with 10 rows of scales. The ventral origin is under 



196 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the middle of the dorsal; the fin is one half as long as the head. 
The pectoral reaches the 14th series of scales of the lateral line; 
its length is two thirds of that of the head. The anal is 
moderately long and low; its longest ray about twice the length 
of eye and one half the length of its base. The longest dorsal 
ray equals postorbital part of head. The caudal is deeply 
forked. There are 23 gill rakers below the angle of the first 
arch. D.iii, 15; A. iii, 16. Scales 15-52 to 58. Scutes 20+13 to 14. 

The body is blue with reflections of green and gold; the lower 
parts silvery. 

The golden shad" or skipjack is a common inhabitant of the 
Ohio and Mississippi valleys and the Gulf of Mexico. In Penn- 
sylvania this fish is confined to the Ohio and its tributaries. It 
prefers large streams. It has made its way into the Great lakes 
through canals. The presence of the golden shad in the salt 
water of the Gulf of Mexico was discovered by Silas Stearns 
near Pensacola Fla. This species grows to a length of 18 inches. 

Unlike most other species of herring, this one, according 
to observations of Prof. S. A. Forbes of Illinois, is predaceous, 
feeding on other fishes. Two examples examined by him had 
eaten gizzard shad, Dorosoma, and another one, individuals 
of some unidentified fish. The young of the golden shad, 2J inches 
long, had consumed nothing but terrestrial insects, including 
flies, small spiders, etc. 

As far as I can learn it never ascends small streams. In the 
lower part of the Mississippi valley it migrates into salt water. 
In the upper portion of this region its permanent residence is 
in fresh water. The name skipjack is given in allusion to its 
habit of skipping along the surface of the water. 

The fish is full of small bones, and its flesh is reputed to be 
tasteless and without value as food; jet Kirtland says it is 
esteemed in Ohio as a good pan fish. In the water its move- 
ments are graceful and active, and its peculiarity of leaping 
above the surface when in pursuit of its prey is interesting and 
unusual in this family. 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 197 

112 Pomolobus mediocris (Mitcliill) 
Hickory Shad; Fall Herring ; Shad Herring 

Clupea mediocris Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 450, 1815. New 
York; Jordan & Gilbert, B<ull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 266,1883; Mc- 
Donald, Fish & Fish. Ind. IT. S. I, 607, pis. 216A, 216B, 1884; Bean, 
19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. separate, 43, pi. XXV, fig. 34, 1890. 

Clupea mattowaca Mitchill, Trails. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 451, 1815. 
Long Island. 

Clupea virescens De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 252, pi. 13, fig. 37, 1842. 

Alosa mattowaca De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 260, pi. 40, fig. 127, 1842. 

Alosa lineata Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 162, pi. XXVII, fig. 2, 1867. 

Clupea mattowaca Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 438, 1868. 

Pomolobus mediocris Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 425. 
1896, pi. LXXI, fig. io8, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. XVII, 91, 1898; 
Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 96, 1900. 

Head comparatively long, its length being contained four 
times in that of the body; the profile straight, and not very 
steep, form more elliptic than in others, and less heavy forward; 
lower jaw considerably projecting, upper jaw emarginate. The 
depth of the body is contained three and three eighths times in 
the length. Opercles rather less emarginate below and behind 
than in P. pseudoharengus. Fins low; dorsal fin 
inserted nearer snout than base of caudal. Bluish silvery; 
sides with rather faint longitudinal stripes. Peritoneum pale. 
Length 24 inches. Gape Cod to Florida; rather common; not 
highly valued as a food fish; not ascending streams to spawn. 

r 

D. 15; A. 21. Lateral line 50; abdominal scutes 20+16. 

This species is referred to by Dr Mitchill as the Staten Island 
herring, Clupea mediocris, which he says grows very 
large for a herring, being frequently 18 inches long and almost 
as big as a small shad. It has " six or eight brown spots, longi- 
tudinally, below the lateral line, as reported by an inhabitant 
of that part of the bay of New York which borders on Staten 
Island." Mitchill, also, has the same species under the name of 
Long Island herring, Clupea mattowaca. This, he says, 
is also called the autumnal or fall herring, as well as shad 
herring and fall shad. Mitchill recognized it as probably the 
full-grown fish of the C. mediocris. He was not able to 
distinguish it from that species. The length of the greenback, 



198 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

according to this writer, frequently readies % feet with a depth 
of from 4J to 6 inches. At the time of his writing the fish was 
taken in October and November in seines on the surf side of the 
beaches fronting Long Island. Dr DeKay mentions examples 
in the market early in July, which are brought from the Con- 
necticut river, where they are called weesick. He states that 
the specific name bestowed on it by Mitchill was derived from 
the aboriginal name of the island, Mattowaca or Mattowax. In 
Great South bay the name greenback is well established for 
the species. A single example was seined September 29 at Fire 
island. Oct. 1, 1890, considerable numbers of large greenbacks 
were caught in a trap at Islip. The hickory shad is caught in 
Gravesend bay during September, October and November, but is 
less plentiful than it was formerly. Large hickory shad, weighing 
from J pound to 2-J pounds, were shipped from waters near 
New York city to Fulton market Oct. 30, 1896. Each of them 
had in its stomach from 15 to 20 sand lance from 3^ to 5 inches 
long. A few specimens were seined at Blue Point cove, Great 
South bay, and at Howell's point, in the same bay, Aug. 31, 1898. 

At Woods Hole Mass. it comes in the spring, but is most 
numerous late in September and till trap fishing ends. In Octo- 
ber 1895 a trap near Tarpaulin cove caught 3500 at one lift. 
These brought 10c each in New York. In spring and summer 
the fish has no market value, but it sells in the fall. 

The name hickory shad is applied to this species from the 
Chesapeake bay region southward, and in some Georgia rivers 
this is abbreviated to hicks. In the Potomac, and some other 
rivers tributary to the Chesapeake, the name tailor shad is ap- 
plied to this fish. The hickory shad occurs from Maine to 
Florida, entering rivers except in New England. The species is 
much less valuable than the shad, for which it is often sold by 
dealers. Nothing definite is known about its habits, but Marshall 
McDonald was of the opinion that it spawns in the rivers at a 
little earlier period than the shad, which it always precedes in. 
the ascent of the streams in spring. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 199 

113 Pomolobus pseudoharengus (Wilson) 
Branch Herring; Alewife 

Clupea pseudoharengus Wilson, Rees's Encycl. IX, about 1811. 

Clupea vernalis Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 22, 1814; Trans. Lit. & Phil. 

Sac. N. Y. I, 454, 1815; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

267, 1883; Bean, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 588, 1884; Fishes Penna. 

58, pi. 25, fig. 45, 1893; Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, pis. 207, 208, 

1884. 
Alosa tyrannus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 258, pi. 13, fig. 38, 1842. 
Pomolobus vernalis Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. 24, 1879. 
Pomolobus pseudoliarengus Gill, Rep. U. S. F. C. I, 811, 1873; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, IJ. S. Nat. Mus. 426, 1896, pi. LXXI, fig. 189, 1900; 

Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 91, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. 

State Mus. 96, 1900. 

Body deep and heavy forward, much compressed. Its greatest 
depth, at dorsal origin equals one third of total length to base of 
caudal. The least depth of caudal peduncle equals but one half of 
length of head. The head is short, being almost as deep as long, 
about one fifth of the standard length. The eye is large, deeper 
than long, its length slightly greater than its distance from tip 
of snout — about three and one half in head. Maxillary broad, 
extending to the vertical through pupil; upper jaw emarginate, 
lower jaw slightly projecting. Length of dorsal base almost equal 
to that of head; its highest ray about two thirds as long as the 
base, or equal to anal base. The anal is low, its longest ray 
being equal to length of eye. Caudal deeply forked, partially 
scaled near base. Length of pectoral less than that of dorsal 
base. D. 16; A. 17 to 19. Scales 15-50 to 54. 

In the male the dorsal is higher, its longest ray about equal 
to length of dorsal base, or two thirds the length of head. 

Color on black blue silvery and paler on sides and underneath; 
a black spot behind head; dusky lines on body, which are only 
visible on large examples. 

Described from no. 27197 U. S. National Museum from Poto- 
mac river. Length 11 inches. 

The branch herring, river herring or alewife has a variety of 
additional names. It is the ellwife or ellwhop of Connecticut 
river, the spring herring of New York, the big-eyed and wall- 



200 v NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

eyed herring of the Albemarle, the sawbelly of Maine, the gray- 
back of Massachusetts, the gaspereau of Canada, little shad of 
certain localities, and the Cayuga lake shad of New York. The 
recorded range of the branch herring is from the Neuse river, 
N. C, to the Miramichi river, in New Brunswick, ascending 
streams to their head waters for the purpose of spawning. The 
fish is found abundant in Cayuga and Seneca lakes, N. Y., where 
it has probably made its way naturally. In Lake Ontario, since 
the introduction there of the shad, the alewife has become so 
plentiful as to cause great difficulty to fishermen, and its periodi- 
cal mortality is a serious menace to the health of people living 
in the vicinity. The belief is that the fish were unintentionally 
introduced with the shad. In Pennsylvania the branch alewife 
occurs in the Delaware and the Susquehanna in great numbers 
in early spring. 

The U. S. Fish Commission, in 1894, obtained specimens at the 
following localities of the Lake Ontario region. 

Cape Vincent June 21 

Grenadier island June 27 

Mouth Salem river, Selkirk July 25 

Long pond, Charlotte, N. Y. Aug. 17 

Lake Shore, mouth Long pond Aug. 17 

Sandy creek, North Hamlin Aug. 20 

Not a native of Cayuga lake but often found there in large 
numbers. Known to the fishermen as sawbelly. It is thought 
to have been introduced into the lakes of central New York by 
the state fish commission. Large numbers are often found dead 
on the shores of Seneca and Cayuga lakes. (After Meek) 
De Kay says it appears in New York waters with the shad about 
the first of April, but never in sufficient numbers to form a 
separate fishery. 

The branch herring, or alewife, is the first of the alewives to 
appear in Gravesend bay; it comes with the shad. It endures 
captivity well. Nov. 30, 1897, individuals above 7 inches in 
length were caught in Gravesend bay, which were probably the 
young of the year. , 



PISHES OF NEW YOR^ 201 

This alewife seldom exceeds 1 foot in length, the average mar- 
ket examples being about 10 inches. The weight of the largest 
is about \ pound, and the average weight is about 5 or 6 
ounces. 

The fish enter the rivers earlier than the shad and return to 
the sea, or to estuaries adjacent to the river mouths, at some 
undetermined date in the fall. During the summer months 
enormous schools of full grown, but sexually immature alewives 
migrate along the coast, feeding on small crustaceans and them- 
selves furnishing food for bluefish, sharks, porpoises and other 
predaceous animals; but none of them are known to enter fresh 
waters. In the rivers the alewives appear to eat nothing, but 
they can be captured with small artificial flies of various colors. 
Their eggs are somewhat adhesive and number from 60,000 to 
100,000 to the individual. They are deposited in shoal water; 
spawning begins when the river water is at 55° to 60° F. The 
period of hatching is not definitely known, but is believed to 
exceed four days. 

During the spring and summer the young grow to a length of 
2 or 3 inches; after their departure from the streams nothing is 
known of their progress, but it is believed that they reach 
maturity in four years. We have no means of learning the age 
of the immature fish seen in great schools off shore, and thus far 
the rate of growth is unsettled. 

The branch alewife, though full of small bones, is a very- 
valuable food fish and is consumed in the fresh condition as well 
as d^ salted, pickled and smoked. The fry can be reared in 
ponds by placing adults in the waters to be stocked a little 
before their spawning season; and they furnish excellent food 
for bass, rockfish, trout, salmon, and other choice fishes. The 
proper utilization of the immense oversupply of these fish in 
Lake Ontario has become a serious economic problem. 

Alewives are caught in seines, gill nets, traps and pounds and 
they are often taken by anglers with artificial flies. 



202 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

114 Pomolobus cyanonoton (Storer) 
Glut Herring; Blueback 

Alosa cyanonoton Stoeek, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. II, 242, 1848, Hist. 

Fish. Mass, 161, pi. XXVII, fig. 1, 1867. 
Pauiolobus aestivalis Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. 24, 1879; Jobdan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47. U. S. Nat. Mus. 426, 1896, pi. LXXI, fig. 190, 1900; 

Smith, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. XVII, 91, 1898. 
Glupea aestivalis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 267, 1883; 

McDonald, Fish & Fish. Iud. U. S. I, 579, pis. 209, 210, 1884, not 

Clupea aestivalis Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 456, pi. V, 

fig. 6, 1815. 

Body moderately deep and compressed, its greatest depth two 
sevenths of the length without caudal; least depth of caudal 
peduncle two sevenths of greatest depth of body; head short, 
one fifth of total length xwithout caudal, the maxilla extending 
to below the middle of the eye, its width about one third of its 
length, lower jaw somewhat projecting, upper jaw notched; eye 
smaller than in P. pseudoharengus, equal to snout and 
one fourth of length of head, chiefly covered by an adipose mem- 
brane; gill rakers about 44 below and 21 above the angle of the 
first arch, the longest about equal to iris; lower caudal lobe the 
longer, about equal to length of head. Dorsal fin begins in 
advance of ventral origin, over the 13th row of scales; the 
longest ray is about three fourths as long as the base of the fin 
and twice as long as the last ray. Anal base two and one half 
times as long as the longest ray and as long as the head with- 
out the snout. Ventral under the 6th developed ray of dorsal, 
the fin one half as long as the head; its axillary scale about one 
half as long as the ventral fin. A small black spot behind the 
opercle on the level of the top of the eye. Narrow dark streaks 
on about five rows of scales above the median line. Peritoneum 
very dark. D. iii, 15; A. ii,. 18; V. i,8; P. i, 15. Scales 13-53; 
scutes 21 + 14. Above bluish, sides and gill covers with coppery 
reflections, lower parts silvery. Irish golden. Here described 
from a male specimen taken in the Potomac river and now in 
the U. S. National Museum. 

Mitchill's name, aestivalis, can not be applied with any 
certainty to the "glut herring"; it appears to be a synonym of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 203 

mediocris and mattowaca of the same author. Its 
relation to mattowaca was long since pointed out by Dr 
Gill. The description 1 herewith appended appears to make this 
conclusion inevitable. 

Summer herring of New York (C 1 u p e a aestivalis). Has 
a row of spots to the number of seven or eight, extending in 
the direction of the lateral line. Tail forked. Belly serrate; 
and, in most respects, resembling the C. h a 1 e c , herein already 
described. Kays: Br. 6; P. 15; V. 9; D. 16; A. 19; G. 19. 

The figure shows a row of eight dark spots on the side extend- 
ing as far back as the end of the dorsal fin on the level of the 
eye. This resembles the hickory shad, Pomolobus medio- 
cris, more than anything else, and it probably was that 
species. 

The glut herring arrives later than the branch herring and 
does not ascend streams far above salt water. It appears to 
spawn only in the larger streams or their tidal tributaries and 
at a temperature of 70° to 75°; while the branch herring spawns 
in w r ater as low as 55° to 60° and ascends far up the streams 
and their small fresh-water branches. 

In Gravesend bay the glut herring is called shad herring. 
Nov. 30, 1897, tw T o young fish of the year, measuring about 7 
inches in length, were obtained from that bay. In Great South 
bay the species is called herring. A single example was secured 
there on Sep. 29, 1890. In 1898 it was not collected either in 
Great South bay or Mecox, in both of which the branch herring- 
was abundant. 

At Provincetown the species is known as the blueback and 
kiouk. According to Storer, it appears there in small numbers 
in May, but is not abundant before June 10, and it remains on 
the coast for a short time only. The alewife, or branch herring, 
arrives on the coast of Massachusetts about the end of March, 
and is taken till the middle or last of May. 

Genus alosa Cuvier 
Body deep, compressed, deeper than in related American 
genera, the head also deep, the free portion of the cheeks deeper 

1 Mitchill. Lit. and Phil. Soc. N. Y. Trans. 1815. p. 456, pi. 5, fig. 6. 



204 NEW YORK STATE .MUSEUM 

than long; jaws wholly toothless (except in young); upper jaw 
with a sharp, deep notch at tip, the premaxillaries meeting at 
a very acute angle. Vertebrae 56 (in A 1 o s a a 1 o s a), other- 
wise as in P o ni o 1 o b u s , to which genus Alosa is very 
closely allied. Species three, of the north Atlantic, ascending 
rivers; highly valued as food fishes. Though very full of small 
bones, the flesh is white and rich, but not oily. 

115 Alosa sapidissima (Wilson) 
Shad 

Clupea sapidissima Wilson, Kees's New Cyclopedia, IX, about 1811, no 
pagination, no date; Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 205, Jan. 
1818, says Wilson first distinguished and named the Shad; McDonald 
in Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 594, pis. 212, 213, 1884; Bean, Fishes 
Penna. 60, pi. 2, 1893; Cheney, 4th Ann. Rep. N. Y. Comm. Fish, 
colored plate facing p. 8, 1899. 

Clupea alosa Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 449, 1815. 

Alosa praestaUlis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 255, pi. 15, fig. 41, 1842; 
Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 154, pi. XXVI, fig. 2, 1867. 

Alosa sajndissima Linsley, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, XLVH, 70, 1844; Storer, 
Syn. Fish. N. A. 206, 1846; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 427, 1896, pi. LXXII, fig. 191, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 
91, 1898. 

The American Shad. Goode, American Fishes, 400, fig. 1888. 

The shad was formerly referred to the genus Clupea, but 
differs from the typical sea herring in the shape of the cheek 
bone, which is somewhat deeper than long. The adult is tooth- 
less, but the young has well developed, though small, teeth in 
the jaws, which sometimes persist till the fish has reached a 
length of 15 inches. To this subgenus the name Alosa was 
given by Cuvier. 

The shad has a deep body and a large mouth, with the jaws 
about equal. The gill rakers are very long and slender, varying 
with age from 40 to 60 below the angle of the first arch. In 
the female the dorsal originates a little in front of the middle 
of the length; in the male somewhat farther in front. The dor- 
sal of the male is rather higher than that of the female, while 
the body is not so deep. In the female the greatest depth is 
one third of the total without caudal and the length of the 
head two ninths. In the male the length of the head is one 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 205 

fourth of the total without caudal. The dorsal has 13 divided 
rays and 4 simple ones; anal 19 divided and 3 simple. Scales 
16—60 to 65. Scutes 22+16. 

The color is bluish or greenish with much silvery; a dusky 
blotch close behind the head, two thirds as large as the eye, 
and frequently from several to many, in one or two rows, 
behind this. The lining of the belly walls is pale. 

The shad is known also as the white shad, and in the colonial 
days it was known to the negroes on the lower Potomac river 
as the whitefish. It is found naturally along the Atlantic coast 
of the United States from the Gulf of St Lawrence to the Gulf 
of Mexico, ascending streams at various dates from January 
in its extreme southern limit to June in far northern waters. 
In the Delaware and Susquehanna it makes its appearance in 
April and departs after spawning; but remains sometimes as 
late as July 18, and many die. 

The original distribution of the shad has been widely extended 
by artificial introduction. In certain rivers flowing into the 
Gulf of Mexico the fish has been established by planting. In 
the Ohio river a fishery has been created by the same method; 
and in the Sacramento river, Cal., the shad was successfully 
introduced, and it has colonize^ not only this river but all suit- 
able rivers from San Francisco to southern Alaska. It is now 
one of the common market species in San Francisco and other 
west coast cities. 

In the Susquehanna the shad was formerly one of the most 
important native food fishes, but its range is now very limited 
on account of obstruction by dams. 20 years ago the fish 
commissioners reported that a few shad are taken yearly above 
the Clark's Ferry dam, none or at most a few dozen above the 
Shamokin dam, none above the Nanticoke dam and none above 
Williamsport. The largest run of shad that has been known 
to pass the Columbia dam was that of 1867. " In 1871 the finest 
Columbia shad were hawked in the market at Harrisburg, 30 
miles from the fisheries, at considerably less than a dollar a 
pair. The catch at Columbia exceeded 100,000." 



206 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The obstructions in the Delaware have been almost entirely 
overcome. In 1891 shad were caught higher up the Delaware 
than for many years, and spawned in the upper reaches of the 
river beyond the New York state line. In 1891 the Delaware, 
for the first time since 1823, was restored to its normal condi^ 
tion by means of the fishway at Lackawaxen; and, according 
to Col. Gay, it is at present the best shad river in the country. 
The number of eggs obtained for artificial propagation in the lower 
river was unusually small, but the number naturally deposited in 
the upper waters was greater than for many years. Col. Gay 
observed a large number of big female shad at Gloucester City, 
but a great scarcity of males. This necessitated a long run 
up the river before spawning. The cause is believed to be the 
low temperature of the water during May,, the lack of rain 
cutting off the usual supply of warm surface water and the 
tributaries of the upper river bringing down nothing but cold 
spring water, keeping the temperature of the river below the 
normal for spawning purposes. Consequently, the shad as- 
cended more than 300 miles. Mr Ford noticed that every pool 
in the upper river was full of shad, and he saw them playing 
in the water by hundreds. Mr Van Gordon saw them above 
Port Jervis, and they were observed as far up as Deposit N. Y. 

The shad reaches a length of 2 feet. It is asserted that 50 
years ago shad weighing from 8 to 13 pounds were not uncom- 
mon in the Susquehanna. It is said that even larger individuals 
were taken. In California the shad reaches a larger size than 
it does in the east, specimens weighing from 13 to 14 pounds 
being often seen in the markets. The average weight of females 
is 4 or 5 pounds. The male is much smaller. 

The young shad remain in the rivers till the approach of cold 
weather, when they descend to the sea, and they are usually 
seen no more till they return as mature fish ready for repro- 
duction. They are known to feed on small flies, crustaceans 
and insect larvae. They have been fed with fresh-water cope- 
pods and kept alive in this way till they had obtained a length 
of more than 1 inch. In the carp ponds, at Washington, Dr 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



207 



Hessel succeeded in rearing shad on the D a p h n i a and 
Cyclops to a length of 3 or 4 inches, and one time, when 
they had access surreptitiously to an abundant supply of young 
carp, well fed individuals reached a length of 6 inches by the 
first of November. Shad have been kept at the central station 
of the U. S. Fish Commission over the winter, but at the age 
of one year, doubtless for lack of sufficient food, the largest 
was less than 4 inches long. At this age they were seen to 
capture smaller shad of the season of 1891, which were an inch 
or more in length. The commissioner of fisheries detected 
young shad also in the act of eating young California salmon; 
and on one occasion found an undigested minnow, 2 or 3 inches 
long, in the stomach of a large shad; and they have been caught 
with minnows for bait. The principal growth of the shad takes 
place at sea, and, when the species enters the fresh waters 
for the purpose of spawning, it ceases to feed, but will some- 
times take the artificial fly and live minnows. The migratory 
habit of the shad has already been referred to. The spawning 
habits have been thus described by Marshall McDonald. 

The favorite spawning grounds are on sandy flats bordering 
streams and on sand bars. The fish appear to associate in 
pairs, usually between sundown and 11 p. m. When in the act 
of spawning they swim close together near the surface, their 
dorsal fins projecting above the water and their movements 
producing a sound which the fishermen call kk washing." The 
eggs are expressed by the female while in rapid motion; the 
male following close and ejecting his milt at the same time. 
Such of the eggs as come in contact with the milt are impreg- 
nated, but the greater portion of them are carried aw r ay by the 
current or destroyed by spawn-eating fishes. After impregna- 
tion the egg sinks to the bottom, and under favorable conditions 
develops in from three to eight days. 

According to Seth Green, the embryo shad swim as soon 
as the3 r break the shell, and make their way to the 
middle of the stream, where they are comparatively safe 
from predaceous fishes. A mature female^ shad of 4 or 
5 pounds contains about 25,000 eggs on the average, but as 
many as 60,000 have been obtained from a 6 pound fish, and 



208 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

100,000 were obtained from a single female on the Potomac. 
There is great mortality among the shad after spawning. Dead 
fish of both sexes are frequently seen floating in the water in 
the late months of summer. 

Mitchill states that the shad visits New York annually about 
the end of March or beginning of April; that is, ascends toward 
the sources of the Hudson; that it usually weighs 4 or 5 pounds, 
but sometimes as much as 12 pounds. De Kay says a large 
variety, supposed to be an old fish, and weighing from 10 to 12 
pounds, were frequently taken in the Hudson, under the name 
of yellow backs. The shad, in his time, ascended the river 150 
miles, to spawn, and descended in the latter part of May. The 
introduction of gill nets, he writes, has caused a scarcity of the 
fish and will drive them from the river before many years. 

Nets set off shore in Gravesend bay in the fall frequently 
inclose large quantities of young shad, sometimes a ton and 
a half at one time, during their migration seaward, but they 
are at once liberated. The fish are usually about 6 to 
8 inches long. Oct. 17, 1895, 60 or 70 were caught 
in John B. De Nyse's pound, among them a male 11 
inches long and 2f inches deep, and a female 12 inches long 
and 3 inches deep. Oct. 31, 1895, a male 13J inches long and 
8J inches deep, and a female 13J inches long and 3-J inches deep 
were obtained in the same pound. Apparently the shad do not 
all remain at sea after their first migration till they are sexually 
mature. In the Potomac river young shad 8 to 9 inches long 
occasionally enter in the spring with the adults in large num- 
bers. Mr De Nyse informs me that in the first spring run of 
small shad in Gravesend bay fully 90$ are males. 

Genus sardinella Cuvier and Valenciennes 
Small herrings of the tropical seas, with the vertebrae in re- 
duced numbers, about 40 to 44, and with the scales large, usually 
firm and adherent, often crossed by vertical striae. Ventral 
scutes strong, 25 to 35 in number; adipose eyelid obsolete; lower 
jaw projecting, upper jaw somewhat emarginate, teeth weak; 
ventrals inserted behind front of dorsal; body compressed; 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 209 

cheeks not deep; gill rakers long and numerous; otherwise 
essentially as in P o m o 1 o b u s. The genus Sardinella, as 
here understood, covers a wide diversity of forms and may be 
divisible into several genera when the anatomy of the species 
is better known. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

116 Sardinella species 

Scaled Sardine 

An individual about 9 inches long was obtained by W. I. De 
Nyse in GraA^esend bay in 1895. This was the only one observed 
in that locality, and it is the only record known of the occur- 
rence of a fish of this genus north of Florida. The specimen 
was seen and identified as a Sardinella by the writer, but, 
before he had opportunity to make a detailed study, it disap- 
peared from the tank in which it was placed and could not be 
found. 

Genus opisthoxema Gill 

Characters essentially those of Sardinella, except that 
the last ray of the dorsal is produced in a long filament as in 
Dorosoma, Megalops and* Tarpon. Species few , 
American. 

117 Opisthonema oglinum (Le Sueur) 

Thread Herring; Shad Herring; Sprat Herring 

Megalops oglina Le Sueue, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sei. Phila. I, 359, Sept. 1818, 

Newport, R. I. 
Megalops notata Le Sueur, op. cit. 361, Sept. 1818. Guadeloupe. 
Chatoessus signifer De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 264, pi. 41, fig. 132, 1842. 
Opisthonema oglina Goode & Bean, Proc. IT. S. Nat. Mus. VIII, 206, June 

8, 1885. 
OpistJwnema oglinum Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 432, 

1896; Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 336, 1897; Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. XVII, 91, 1898. 

Body oblong, deep, compressed, its greatest depth one third 
of the total length without caudal; caudal peduncle short, stout, 
its least depth one half the length of head; head short, deep, 
its length one fourth Of total length without caudal; eye large, 
two sevenths to one third of length of head, slightly longer than 
snout; maxilla reaching to below front of pupil, its width more 



210 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

than one half its length, the bone almost covering the mandible, 
which is scarcely projecting; gill rakers very long and slender; 
psendobranchiae well developed; dorsal origin much nearer to 
tip of snout than to base of caudal, equidistant from snout and 
origin of anal, base of dorsal as long as the longest ray and two 
thirds as long as the head, filament reaching to base of caudal, 
much longer than the head in examples measuring from 7 to 9 
inches; anal base as long as the head without the snout, its 
longest ray three fourths of diameter of eye; ventral origin 
under 8th or 9th developed ray of dorsal, the fin half as long 
as the head; pectoral four fifths as long as the head. Scales 
smooth, firm, but easily detached. Bluish above; lower parts 
silvery; an indistinct bluish spot behind the operculum; each 
scale on the back having a dark spot at its base, these forming 
streaks as in the glut herring. Length 12 inches. D. 19; A. 24. 
Scales 15-50; scutes 17+14. (West Indies, northward to Cape 
Cod in summer.) 

The thread herring appears in July and August in Gravesend 
bay, and is sometimes so abundant as to fill the nets (fykes) of 
the fishermen. The great run begins toward the end of July 
and lasts two weeks. The fish is known there as the sprat 
herring. 

De Kay, in Neto York Fatma, Fishes, p. 2C4, pi. 41, fig. 132, de- 
scribes the species under the name Chatoessus signifer. 
The colors, according to that author, are as follows: " Bluish 
above, with a series of dark points along the sides of the back, 
forming four or five longitudinal lines. A round black spot 
behind the upper part of the branchial aperture. Pectorals, 
ventrals and anal white. Dorsal and caudal yellow; the mem- 
brane finely punctate with black, and bordered with dusky. 
Irides white varied with yellowish." He further says : " It 
appears in our waters about the beginning of September, where 
it is often called the shad herring. It has also the names of 
thread herring and threadfish, in allusion to its last filamentous 
dorsal ray." 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 211 

In the Woods Hole region of Cape Cod it is very rare, accord- 
ing to Dr Smith. A number were taken in the fall of 1871. 
In 1885 it was common in Buzzards bay and Vineyard sound in 
July. It remained about a month, and specimens were taken 
in traps at almost every lift. During the next four years the 
fish was also noticed, but none has been seen since 1890. 

Genus brevoortia Gill 

Body elliptic, compressed, deepest anteriorly, tapering be- 
hind; head very large; cheeks deeper than long; mouth large, 
the lower jaw included; no teeth; gill rakers very long and 
slender, densely set, appearing to fill the mouth when it is 
opened; gill arches angularly bent. Scales deeper than long, 
closely imbricated, their exposed edges vertical and fluted or 
pectinated. Dorsal fin low, rather posterior; anal fin small. 
Intestinal canal elongate. Vertebrae 48. Peritoneum dusky. 
Species few; inhabiting the Atlantic; spawning probably in 
brackish water in the spring. Coarse, herbivorous fishes, not 
valued as food, but the young of the greatest value as food to 
other fishes. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

118 Brevoortia tyrannus (Latrobe) 
Menhaden; Mossbunker 

Clupea tyrannus Latrobe, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila. V, 77, pi. 1, 1802, 
(Chesapeake bay) 

Clupea menhaden Mitchill, TraDs. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 453, pi. V, 
fig. 7, 1815, New York; Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 436, 1868. 

Alosa menhaden De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 259, pi. 21, fig. 60, 1842; 
Stoeee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 158, pi. XXVI, fig. 4, 1867. 

Brevoortia tyrannus Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. I, 531, 1878; Fish & 
Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 569, pi. 205, 1884; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 269, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. separate, 44, 
pi. XXV, fig. 35, 1890; Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 336, 1897; 52d 
Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 96, 1900; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 433, 1896, pi. LXXIII, fig. 195, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. 
F. C. XVII, 91, 1898. 

The menhaden has the exposed surfaces of its scales very 
narrow and deep. The body is similar in shape to that of the 
shad, the depth being one third of the length without caudal, 
and somewhat greater than the length of the head. Mouth 
large; jaws toothless. The maxilla extends to below the hind 



212 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

margin of the eye. The eye is about as long as the snout, one 
fifth of length of head. The fins are small, the pectoral not 
much more than half the length of the head and twice as long 
as the ventral. The dorsal base is equal in length to the pec- 
toral; longest dorsal ray more than twice as long as the last 
ray and about two fifths of length of head. The anal rays are 
shorter than those of the dorsal; length of anal base little more 
than one half the length of head. The origin of the dorsal is about 
midway between tip of snout and end of middle caudal rays. 
The sides and fins are silvery, yellowish, the upper parts bluish. 
Behind the head there is a large dark spot, larger than the pupil, 
and behind it numerous smaller dark spots. 

The menhaden has received more than 34) common names, 
among which the one here employed is the best known and most 
suitable. In New Jersey it is frequently called bunker or moss- 
bunker, and in some other localities it is the bony fish. It is 
also called bugfish, because of a crustacean parasite which is 
found in the mouth. 

The menhaden reaches a length of 15 inches or more; its aver- 
age size is about 1 foot. It is found along our east coast from 
Maine to Florida, swimming in immense schools and fluctuating 
greatly in abundance. In certain localities its movements are 
affected chiefly by temperature. 

The use of the menhaden as a source of oil and a material for 
fertilizers is so well known as scarcely to need mention here. 
As an edible fish it is not generally esteemed; in most localities 
it is seldom eaten, though in some places it is considered a good 
food fish. Since the mackerel is becoming scarce, menhaden are 
often salted in barrels as a substitute for that fish. 

The menhaden appears in Dr Mitchill's Fishes of New York as 
the bony fish, hardhead or marshbanker. The aboriginal name 
menhaden, and the one most suitable for the species, is men- 
tioned by this writer. Dr De Kay, in his New York Fauna, intro- 
duced the name mossbunker as well as the Indian names pan- 
hagen and menhaden. He notes also the names skippang and 
bunker as in use at the east end of Long Island. For a survey 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 213 

of the 30 or more additional appellations of this well known 
fish, the reader is referred to the complete history of the Ameri- 
can menhaden by Dr G. Brown Goode. 

The menhaden comes into Gravesend bay in May and through 
the summer. Occasional individuals are seen there in the fall 
as late as November. The fish can be kept alive in the winter 
in captivity, provided the water temperature does not fall below 
50° F. It makes its appearance on the shores of Long Island 
about the beginning of June, sometimes in May, and remains till 
the cold season sets in. A few specimens were taken September 
22 in Blue Point cove in 1884, and Oct. 1, 1890, many thousands 
were caught in a trap at Islip; these were large and very fat 
fish. The use of the menhaden as a bait fish is too well known 
to need special mention. In " chumming " for bluefish near 
Fire island inlet this is the favorite bait. In 1898 the young 
were obtained at Duncan's creek, Howell's point and Nichols's 
point August 29. Adults were sent from Islip by W. F. Clark 
August 18. 

In the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, 
menhaden arrive in schools about May 20, but scattered fish are 
taken in March with alewives; they remain till December 1, some- 
times till December 20, but are most abundant in June. When the 
schools first arrive, the reproductive organs of many of the fish 
are in an advanced stage of development, but after July 1 none 
with large ovaries are found. Late in fall the fish again have 
well developed roes. The smallest fish are about an inch long; 
these are found in little schools about the shores and wharves 
as early as July 15. The young are abundant throughout sum- 
mer and fall. The average length of adults is 13 or 14 inches; 
one fish 18 inches long was caught at Woods Hole in 1876. 

Family engraulididae 

Anchovies 

Genus stolephorus Lacepede 

Body oblong, compressed, covered with rather large, thin, 

deciduous scales; belly rounded, or weakly compressed; snout 

conical, compressed, projecting beyond the very large mouth; 



214 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

maxillary narrow, little movable, usually formed of three 
pieces, extending backward far behind the eye, to the base of the 
mandible, or beyond, not beyond gill opening; premaxillaries^ 
very small; teeth small, subequal, present at all ages, usually 
on the jaws, vomer, palatines, and pterygoids. Anal fin moder- 
ate, free from caudal (its rays 12 to 40); no pectoral filaments;, 
dorsal inserted about midway of body, posterior to ventrals; 
pectorals and ventrals each with a large axillary scale. Adi- 
pose eyelid obsolete. Vertebrae about 40 (40 to 42) in species 
examined. Flesh rather pale and dry, more or less translucent, 
the bones firm. Pseudobranchiae present; branchiostegals nine 
to 14; gill rakers long and slender; gill membranes separate, free 
from the narrow isthmus. 

119 Stolephorus brownii (Gmelin) 
iStriped Anchovy 

Atherina brownii Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1397, 1788. 

Clupea vittata Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 456, 1815; De Kay, 

N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 254, 1842. 
Engraulis vittata Baird, 9th Ann. Rep. Smith. Inst. 347, 1855. 
Engraulis brownii Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 389, 1868. 
Stolephorus browni Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 273, 1883;. 

Bean, Bull. U. S, F. G. VII, 149, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 

279, 1890. 
Stolephorus brownii Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 443, 

1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. G. XVII, 92, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep't 

N. Y. State Mus. 97, 1900. 

Body moderately elongate, compressed, but thicker than in* 
S. mite hi Hi, its greatest depth two ninths of the total 
length without caudal, and equal to length of head without the 
snout, the thickness one half length of head; head moderate, its- 
length rather more than one fourth of total without caudal, the 
snout short and obtusely pointed, one fifth of length of head, 
two thirds of length of eye; eye equal to width of interorbital 
space, about two sevenths as long as the head. The maxillas 
reaches as far back as the mandible, but not to hind edge of 
opercle. The mandible is partly covered by the maxilla, its tip- 
in advance of the front of eye and overhung by the snout. Teeth 
moderately strong, those on the posterior part of the maxilla 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 215 

raking forward. Gill rakers rather long and slender, numer- 
ous, the longest on first arch three fourths as long as the eye. 
Origin of dorsal fin midway between base of caudal and front 
of eye, its length of base four sevenths of length of head, its 
longest ray one half as long as the head, a sheath of scales at 
Toase; anal with a strong sheath of scales, its base as long as the 
head without the snout; ventrals small, originating in advance 
of dorsal origin, the length equal to eye; axillary scale of pec- 
toral one half as long as the head. Width of silvery band one 
fourth the length of head. D. 14 to 15; A. 20. Scales 40 to 42. 
Upper parts light brown; sides silvery; a broad, bright silvery 
lateral stripe. Length sometimes above 6 inches. Here de- 
scribed from an example taken at Lifesaving station no. 22, 
Long Island, and now in the U. S. National Museum. 

The species occurs from Cape God southward to Brazil and 
the West Indies. 

This is the satin striped herring of MitchilPs Fishes of New 
York, p. 456. By some of the fishermen in Great South bay it is 
-supposed to be the whitebait and is so called. The anchovy was 
extremely abundant in the bay in September 1884. I found it 
at the mouth of Swan creek, in Blue Point cove, near the Life- 
saving station, at Oak island and at Fire island. Specimens 
^vere seen as late as October 7. 

This anchovy forms a very important part of the food of the 
young weakfish and bluefish in Great South bay. It is present 
in very large numbers and could be utilized as a food species. 
The largest examples of this fish which we have seen were taken 
In Great Egg Harbor bay in August; individuals measuring 5J 
inches in length were taken in the surf by hundreds, and weak- 
fish were feeding on them ravenously. In two hauls of a 20 
fathom seine we took here 54 weakfish. 

This species was not common in Great South bay during the 
summer of 1898. It was found at Blue Point cove August 18, 
and young were obtained at Nichols's point September 1. 

Dr Smith records it as usually abundant at Woods Hole, occa- 
sionally rather uncommon. Found from August to late in fall. 
More numerous than any other anchovy. 



216 NEW YORK STATE MUSEJUM 

120 Stotephorus argyrophanus (Cuv. & Val.) 
Silvery Anchovy 

Engraulis argyrophanus Ouvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XXI, 

49, 1848. 
Stolephorus perfasciatus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U.S. Nat. Mus. 273, 1883 r 

not Engraulis perfasciatus Poey, Mem. Cuba, II, 312, 1858. 
Stolephorus eury stole Swain & Meek, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 34, 1881; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. 0. VII, 150, pi. Ill, fig. 19, 1888. 
Stolephorus argyrophanus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

444, 1896; Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 337, 1897; Smith, Bull. 

IT. S. F. O. XVII, 92, 1898. 

Body elongate, much more slender than in S. brownii,. 
and not so much compressed; head not so deep as in S. 
brownii, more pointed, the snout rather sharp; eye rather 
small, four and one half in head, not larger than snout; maxil- 
lary teeth well developed, mandibulary teeth very slender; gill 
rakers very long, as long as the eye; maxillary shorter than in 

5. browni, not reaching quite to the base of the mandible;: 
belly slightly compressed, not serrated. Scales very deciduous. 
Ventrals short, very slightly in front of dorsal; caudal peduncle 
long and slender; dorsal inserted scarcely nearer caudal than 
snout. Silvery stripe broad, half wider than the eye, bordered 
above by a dusky streak. Head three and four fifths; depth 

6. D. 12; A. 20. Length 4 inches. West Indies; occasional 
northward. A specimen in our collection from Woods Hole 
Mass. (After Jordan and Gilbert) 

The types of this species were obtained by Kuhl and Van 
Hasselt in the equatorial Atlantic. Ouvier and Valenciennes, 
in their original description 1 of the fish, contrast it with S. 
browni and others, from which it is distinguished by its form 
and by other characters. 

It has the body longer and slenderer; the cleft of the mouth 
more oblique; the pectoral and anal much shorter; the teeth 
excessively small. B. 11; D. 15; A. 17. The color is blue, more 
pronounced on the back than on the belly. A silvery band run- 
ning along the sides. Ouvier and Valenciermes 

Young individuals were seined at Ocean City N. J. Aug. 1,, 
1887; again at Longport N. J. numerous young were taken Aug- 

1 Hist. Nat. Poiss. 1848. 21:49. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 217 

29, 1887; no adults were seen. A figure of the young is pub- 
lished by Dr Bean in bulletin for 1889 of the U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion, vol. 7, pi. 3, fig. 19. The example figured was nearly 1^ 
inches long. It has the following characters: The hight of the 
body is one sixth of the total length without caudal; least hight 
of caudal peduncle one third of length of head. Head rather 
large, two sevenths of total length without caudal, with ob- 
tusely pointed snout which is about equal to the eye and one 
fourth as long as the head. The maxilla does not reach to the 
hind edge of the preopercle. Dorsal origin nearer to caudal 
base than to tip of snout; the base of the fin as long as the long- 
est ray and one half as long as the head. Pectoral short, three 
sevenths as long as the head; ventrals in advance of dorsal, 
under the 16th row of scales, the length two fifths of length of 
head; anal origin under the end of the dorsal, anal base about 
two thirds as long as the head and one fifth of total length with- 
out caudal; longest anal ray one half as long as the head; cau- 
dal fin large and deeply forked. D. ii, 10; A. ii, 18. Scales 8-38. 
Many individuals were collected at Fire island near the end 
of September. Xone were seen in other parts of the bay. 
The species is known there as whitebait, like the other 
anchovies. In Gravesend bay the species is not common, but 
it occurs more frequently in bays communicating directly with 

the Atlantic. 

121 Stolephoms perfasciatus (Poey) 

Banded Anchovy 

Engrauiis perfasciatus Poey, Mem. Cuba, II, 312, 1858; Gunther, Cat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. VII, 391, 1868. 
Stolephorus perfasciatus Swain & Meek, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 34, 1884; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 441, 1896. 

Body elongate and not much compressed, its greatest hight 
about one sixth of total length without caudal and two thirds 
of length of head, its greatest thickness more than one third of 
length of head; least hight of caudal peduncle equal to thick- 
ness of body behind the head; head long, with pointed snout, 
one fourth of total without caudal, snout equal to eye and two 
ninths of length of head. The maxilla extends backward to 



218 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

front edge of preopercle and not to joint of mandible. Inter- 
orbital space equal to eye; gill rakers numerous, about as long 
as the eye; teeth minute and weak, nearly uniform in size. Dor- 
sal origin about midway between tip of snout and base of 
caudal, dorsal base short, scarcely more than one half as long 
as head, and about equal to longest dorsal ray; ventrals little 
in advance of dorsal origin, very short, only two fifths of length 
of head; pectoral moderate, equal to postorbital part of head. 
Axillary scale very slender, less than one half as long as the 
head. Width of silvery band about equal to length of eye. 
D. ii, 12; A. i, 15 to 16. Scales 44 to 45. Here described from 
specimens obtained at Noank Ot. and in Gravesend bay, L. I., 
the largest about 3 inches long. 

Upper parts light brown, sides silvery; dark punctulations on 
base of caudal and sometimes on anal; belly even in alcoholic 
specimens with iridescent colors. 

The example obtained in Gravesend bay was collected by W. I. 
De Nyse. It has D. 12; A. 15 or 16; scales 45. 

The close resemblance of this species toS. argyrophanus 
Cuv. & Val. makes a farther comparison of the two necessary. 
Perhaps, as long ago suggested by Dr Gunther, 1 the two are 
identical. S. argyrophanus was collected in the equator- 
ial Atlantic, and Poey's species, perfasciatus, is from 
Cuba and Porto Pico. There seems to be little to distinguish 
them except the slightly greater number of anal rays in S. 
argyrophanus, and these have been counted differently 
by different students; the authors, for example, discovered 17, 
while Dr Jordan found 19 in the same type. 

122 Stolephorus mitchilli (Cuv. & Val.) 
Anchovy; Whitebait 

Engraulis mitchilli Ouvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XXI, 50, 

1848. New York; Carolina; New Orleans. 
Stolephorus mitchilli Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 248, 

1883; Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 38, 1885 (name only); Bean, Bull. U. S. 

F. C. VII, 149, 1888; 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 97, 1900; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 446, 1896; Smkth, Bull. U. S. 

F. C. XVII, 92, 1898. 



Cat Fish. Brit. Mus. 1868. 7:391. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 219 

Ungraulis vittatus Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. pi. XXVII, fig. 3, not descrip- 
tion on page 163. 

Body compressed; short and deep, its greatest depth one 
iourth of the total length without caudal, caudal peduncle 
short and deep, its least depth one half the length of head. 
Thickness of body equals three sevenths of length of head. 
Head rather short, its length two ninths of total without caudal. 
Snout shorter than eye, which is two sevenths as long as the 
head. The maxilla extends slightly beyond the hind end of 
mandible, and nearly to the edge of operculum. Interorbital 
distance not quite equal to eye. Gill rakers nearly as long as 
the eye. Origin of dorsal fin much nearer to base of caudal 
than to tip of snout. Length of dorsal base equals two thirds 
of length of head; longest dorsal ray one half as long as head. 
Anal origin under the middle of dorsal; length of anal base 
equals two sevenths of total length without caudal; longest 
anal ray about two thirds as long as the head. Ventral short, 
in advance of dorsal, its length one third of length of head. 
Pectoral one eighth of total length without caudal. Width of 
silvery band about two thirds of eye. Dorsal and anal scaly 
sheaths very strong. D. ii, 10; A. 28; V. i, 6. Scales 37. Length 
of specimens examined, 4 inches. Taken at Fire island. 

Cape Cod to Texas, on sandy shores; the most abundant of the 
New York species. It enters Gravesend bay in May and re- 
mains till October. Locally known as anchovy and whitebait. 
An excellent food fish and very important as the food of larger 
fishes. 

It is very generally distributed in bays along the south shore 
of Long Island, having been found abundant in Scallop pond, 
Peconic bay, in Mecox bay, and almost everywhere in Great 
South bay from July to September 1898. A specimen taken at 
Fire island had a lernaean parasite attached to it. At Woods 
Hole Mass. Dr Smith reports it abundant, associated with S. 
b r o w n i i . 

Family salmonidae 

Salmons 

The whitefishes of New York belong to seven species, repre- 
senting the four divisions of the genus Coregonus. In two 



220 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

of the species the lower jaw is included within the upper, the 
mouth is small, and the intermaxillary bone broad and more or 
less vertical in position. These two may be readily distin- 
guished by the structure of the gill rakers, and the size of the 
mouth. The remaining five whitefishes have the lower jaw as 
long as, or longer than, the upper, the mouth large, and the 
intermaxillary narrow and not vertical in position. They are 
easily separated from one another by the shape of the body, 
and the size and contour of the scales. The relations of the 
groups are shown in the following key. 

1 Lower jaw shorter than upper. 

1 a Mouth very small, upper jaw not reaching to eye; gill rakers 

short and stout, 13 to 16 below angle of first arch (Pros o - 
p i u m) 

QUADRI LATERALIS 

1& Mouth moderate, upper jaw reaching beyond front of eye; gill 
rakers long, and slender, 20 or more below angle of first arch 
(Coregonus) 

CLUPEIF O RMI S 

2 Lower jaw equal to or longer than upper. 

2 a Body slender, elongate; scales small, and convex on their free' 

margin; lower jaw longer than upper (Argyrosomus) 

OSMERIFORMIS AETEDI, HOYI 

PROGNATHUS 

2 & Body deep, short; scales large, deep, the free margin scarcely 
convex; jaws equal (A 1 1 o so m u s) 

TULLIBEE 

Genus coregonus (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body oblong or elongate, compressed; head more or less coni- 
cal, compressed, the snout more or less projecting beyond the 
lower jaw; mouth small, the maxillary short, not extending 
beyond the orbit, with a well developed supplemental bone; 
teeth extremely minute, if present; scales moderate, thin,, 
cycloid, rather firm. Dorsal fin moderate; caudal fin deeply 
forked; anal fin somewhat elongate; ventrals well developed. 
Pseudobranchiae large; gill rakers varying from short and 
thickish to long and slender; air bladder very large; vertebrae 
56 to 60; stomach horseshoe-shaped, with many (about 100) 
pyloric caeca; ova small. Species about 15, inhabiting the clear 
lakes of northern Europe, Asia, and America, in arctic regions 
descending to the sea. Most of them spawn in late fall or 






FISHES OF NEW YORK 221 

winter near the shore, at other seasons often frequenting con- 
siderable depths. 

123 Coregonus quadrilateralis Richardson 
Round Whitefish; Frostfish 

Coregonus quadrilateralis Richardson, Franklin's Journ. 714, 1823. Fort 

Enterprise, British America; Agassiz, Lake Superior, 351, 1850; 

Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit Mus. VI, 176, 1866; Jordan & Gilbert,. 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 298, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 66, pi. 26, fig. 

47, 1893; Bull. Anier. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 337, 1897; Jordan & Ever- 

mann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 465, 1896. 
Salmo (Coregonus) quadrilateralis Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 204,. 

pi. 89, fig. 1, 1836. Great Bear Lake. 
Coregonus novae angliae Prescott, Amer. Jour. Sci. Arts. XI, 342, 1851. 

Lake Winipiseogee, N. H. 
Coregonus novae angliae Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 186, 1866. 

This is a small species and very readily distinguished from all 
other American species except Williamson's whitefish by its 
diminutive mouth. The body is slender, elongate, subterete, its 
greatest depth slightly exceeding one fifth of total length to 
base of caudal. The head is long, its length one fifth of total 
without caudal, and the snout is thin and obtuse at tip. The 
broad maxilla does not reach to below the front of the eye, its 
length less than one fifth of length of head. D. 11; A. 10. 
Scales in lateral line, 80 to 90. Upper parts dark bluish; sides 
silvery. 

This species is called frostfish in the Adirondacks; other 
names are Menominee whitefish, roundfish, shad-waiter, pilot- 
fish and chivey, the last term applied to the fish in Maine. 

The roundfish is found in lakes of New England, sometimes 
running into streams, the Adirondack region of New York, the 
Great lakes and northward into British America and Alaska. 
Its distribution has been extended by transplanting on account 
of its great value as food for the lake trout and other large fish 
of the salmon family. It seldom exceeds a length of 12 inches 
and a weight of 1 pound. Like some other species of whitefish, 
it spawns in shallow parts of lakes or ascends their small tribu- 
tary streams for that purpose. The food consists of small: 



222 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

shells and crustaceans. The species frequents deep waters, 
where it falls an easy prey to the voracious lake trout. 

The roundfish is excellent for the table. Its capture with 
hook and line is difficult because of its very small mouth and its 
habit of retiring into deep water. In the Great lakes it does 
not constitute an important element of the fishery, but in 
northern regions it is one of the most useful and highly prized 
of the food fishes. 

This small whitefish is one of the characteristic species of the 
Adirondack lakes. James Annin jr sent specimens for identifi- 
cation from Hoel pond and Big Clear lake, in Franklin county, 
N. Y., and from the third lake of the Fulton Chain. He states 
that the fish spawns in the little inlets or on the sand beaches. 
It never appears till about the time the water begins to chill and 
freeze about the edges. On the Fulton Chain of lakes the 
spawning season of 1895 was practically closed about Novem- 
ber 20. 

The frostfish, according to Mr Annin, is " a delicious morsel." 

The following notes were made on fresh examples received 
from the third lake of the Fulton Chain Nov. 26, 1895. 

A male llf inches long to end of caudal fin had the middle 
caudal rays, from end of scales, f inches long; upper caudal lobe, 
measured horizontally, If inches; head, 1-H inches; maxilla, 
f inch; eye, § inch; gill rakers, 5 + 10; the longest J as long as 
the eye; scales, 8-84-8. A female llf inches to tip of caudal 
has upper caudal lobe 2 inches, measured horizontally; middle 
caudal rays from end of scales, -r 6 - inch; depth of body, 2J inches; 
head, If inches; maxilla and eye, each f inch; gill rakers, 5 + 10, 
the longest i as long as the eye; scales, 8-79-8. 

Three males received Dec. 11, 1895, showed the following 
colors. 

In the male, 13f inches long, from Hoel pond, the back and 
sides were dark steel gray; the belly white; pectoral, ventral 
and anal orange; dorsal and caudal chiefly yellow. A male 12 
inches long, from Big Clear lake, had the back and sides silvery 
gray, darker between the lines of scales; the lower fins orange; 
the dorsal and caudal with traces of yellow. A male llf inches 





Big Clear 


Big Clear 


Hoel pond 


lake 


lake 


6 


$ 


6 


13% 


12 


ny 8 


2A 


1% 


i% 


% 


% 


T6 


2y 2 


2% 


2 15 


% 


% 


ii 


2 


1% 


1% 


y 2 


.... 


.... 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 223 

long, from Big Clear lake, showed the same colors as the last. 
The following measurements in inches and notes were taken. 



Length 

Caudal lobe, horizontally 

Middle caudal rays . . . . 

Depth of body 

Least depth of caudal peduncle. ... 

Head 

Snout 

Eye A A % 

Maxilla & % % 

In all, the gill rakers are minute, and number: 5 + 10, 5 + 10 
and 5 + 9. The scales are: 10-86-9, 10-76-9, and 9-86-8. 

An example sent by the New York Commission of Fisheries, 
Game and Forest, from Saranac Lake, Nov. 23, 1897, showed the 
following characters. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Inches 

Length, including caudal 13 

Length to end of scales 11^ 

Length of middle caudal rays (from end of scales) % 

Length of upper caudal lobe (obliquely) 2% 

Depth of body at dorsal 2% 

Least depth of caudal peduncle ti 

Length of head. 2%. 

Diameter of eye. *% 

Length of maxilla (does not reach orbit). A 

Length of mandible % 

Distance from snout to dorsal origin 5% 

Length of dorsal base Its 

Length of longest dorsal ray 1% 

Length of last dorsal ray H 

Distance from snout to ventral origin. .,...'., 5% 

Length of ventral 3 A 

Length of ventral appendage % 

Distance from snout to anal origin. 8% 

Length of anal base 1 A 

Length of longest anal ray Its 

Length of last anal ray V 2 

Length of pectoral. 2 

Distance from snout to adipose fin 9^4 

Length of base of adipose fin t 7 s 

Width of adipose fin % 

Length of adipose fin % 

Length of longest gill raker y s 



-24 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

D. 11; A. 11; V. i, 10; P. i, 14. Scales, 10-84-8. Gill rakers, 
6 + 10, the longest J inch. 

Purplish gray; lower parts whitish; pectorals, ventrals and 
anal vermilion; eye pale golden; head, specially behind the eyes, 
with iridescent gold and purple tints; caudal, chiefly vermilion 
in life. 

The fish is a male with ripe milt. There are numerous small 

tubercles on the scales of the sides above and below the lateral 

line. 

124 Coregonus clupeiformis (Mitchill) 

Common White fisJi; Labrador Whitefish; Shadwaiter 

Salmo clupeiformis Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 321, March, 1818. 
Lake Huron; Cayuga Lake. 

Coregonus albus Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 232, May, 1818. 
Lake Erie; Thompson, Nat. Hist. Vermont, I, 143, figure, 1842; Kirt- 
land, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. Ill, 477, pi. XXVIII, fig. 3, 1841; De Kay, 
N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 247, pi. 76, fig. 240, 1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. 
Brit. Mus. VI, 184, 1866. 

Salmo (Coregonus) labradoricus Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 206, 
1836. 

Coregonus sapidissimus Agassiz, Lake Superior, 344, 1850. 

Coregonus latior Agassiz, op. cit. 348, 1850. 

Coregonus clupeiformis Joedan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 299, 
1883; Goode, Amer. Fishes, 489, figure, 1888; Bean, Fishes Penna. 67, 
color pi. 3, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 465, 
1896, pi. LXXVI, fig. 202, 1900; Cheney, Third Ann. Kept. N. Y. 
Comm. Fish, color pi. facing p. 190, 1898. 

Coregonus labradoricus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 176, 1866, and 
•of authors generally. 

The common whitefish of the Great lakes is so well known 
that it scarcely needs an elaborate description. The body is 
stout and deep, its depth at the nape greatly increased in adults. 
The greatest depth is two sevenths of the total length to caudal 
base. Caudal peduncle short, its depth one half the length of 
head, which is about one fifth of total without caudal. The 
snout is sharp, conical, two sevenths as long as the head and 
about twice as long as the eye. The maxilla reaches to below 
front of eye. The dorsal origin is above the 23d scale of the 
lateral line, and the ventral begins under the middle of the 
dorsal. The longest dorsal ray equals length of head without 
snout, adipose fin stout and low. The dorsal and anal bases 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 225 

are equal to each other and two thirds of length of head. D. 10 
divided rays; A. 11 divided rays; V. 11; P. 15. Scales in lateral 
line 74 to 80. The upper parts are grayish or light olive in 
eolor; the sides white and lustrous in life. 

Names. The name whitefish is thoroughly identified with this 
species and is seldom varied except by means of the prefix 
u common " or " lake." A well marked variety in Otsego lake, 
N. Y., has long been known as the Otsego bass. 

Distribution. The common whitefish occurs in the Great lakes 
and northward into British America; its northern limit is not 
definitely known. In Alaska, where the species was formerly 
supposed to exist, it is replaced by a similar, but well marked 
form, the Coregonus richardsoni of Gunther. The 
variety known as Otsego bass is found in Otsego lake. If 
we may judge from the yield of the fisheries, Lake Michigan has 
more whitefish than any of the other lakes; Superior ranks sec- 
ond; Erie third; Huron fourth; and Ontario is sadly in the rear. 

Size. The largest individual on record was taken at White- 
fish Point, Lake Superior; it weighed 23 pounds. A 17 pound 
specimen was caught at Vermilion, in Lake Erie in 1876. The 
size varies greatly with locality, ranging in general all the way 
from If pounds to 11 pounds. In Lake Erie in 1885 the average 
weight was between 2 and 3 pounds. The length of adults will 
average 20 inches. 

Habits. There is a movement of the whitefish in many lakes 
from the deep water early in the summer into the shoal water 
near the shore. In the midsummer, however, the usual retreat 
of this species is the deep and cold parts of the lakes which they 
inhabit. Again, as the spawning season approaches in October, 
the whitefish come toward the shore to deposit their eggs. It 
is said that they do not spawn till the water has reached a tem- 
perature of about 40°. After spawning they again retire to 
deep water, where they remain during the winter. Mr Milner 
observed that the shoreward migration varies with locality, and 
is influenced also by depth of water and temperature. In Lake 
Erie, for example, which has a high summer temperature, there 



226 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

is no shoreward migration in summer. It is to be noted also* 
that the whitefish moves along the shore, and in some cases it 
ascends rivers for the purpose of spawning. It is believed also* 
that when the feeding grounds of the whitefish are polluted by 
mud, the fish temporarily seek other localities. There appears 
to be a spring and summer migration likewise from lake to lake. 
Spawning takes place during October, November and December, 
on shoals or occasionally in rivers. The female is larger than 
the male. According to the observations of George Clark, the 
two sexes, in the act of spawning, frequently throw themselves 
together above the surface, emitting the spawn or milt with, 
the vents close together. Spawning operations are most active 
in the evening, are continued at night, and the eggs are, de- 
posited in lots of several hundred at a time. The number of 
eggs in a fish of 1\ pounds was 66,606; the average number 
being nearly 10,000 for each pound of the female's weight. The 
period of incubation depends on the temperature. The usual 
time of distribution of the young is in March and April. The 
very young are described as swimming near the surface and 
not in schools. They are very active and soon seek deep water 
to escape from their enemies. Their food consists chiefly of 
small crustaceans. The adults subsist on the same food with 
the addition of small mollusks. 

Growth. The only means of determining the rate of growth: 
of the whitefish is by artificial rearing. Samuel Wilmot had 
young fish which were 5 inches long at the age of four months. 
The growth under natural conditions must be even greater than 
this. Mr Wilmot, himself, has seen whitefish measuring Z 
inches in December in his ponds. 

Enemies and diseases. The eggs of the whitefish are destroyed: 
in immense numbers by the lake herring, Coregonus 
a r t e d i . The water lizard, Menobranchus, also con- 
sumes vast numbers of the eggs. The young whitefish are eaten 
extensively by the pike perch, black bass, pike, pickerel and fresh* 
water ling. The lake trout also feed on the whitefish. A leach 
parasitic on the whitefish proves very troublesome to that spe- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 227 

cies, and the scales are liable to a peculiar roughness which has 
been observed late in November or during the spawning season. 
There is also a lernean which fastens itself to the gills and other 
parts of the whitefish. 

Uses and capture. The excellence of the flesh of the whitefish 
is so well known as scarcely to require mention. Its commer- 
cial value is great. In Lake Erie in 1885, according to statistics 
collected by the U. S. Fish Commission, 3,500,000 pounds of white- 
fish were caught, more than 2,000,000 of this amount by fisher- 
men from Erie alone. In this year Erie county had 310 persons 
employed in the fisheries. The capital invested in the business 
was nearly |250,000. The wholesale value of the fish products 
was upward of f 400,000. The whitefish was the third species in 
relative importance, blue pike ranking first and the lake herring 
second. In Erie county whitefish are caught chiefly in July, 
August and November, and the bulk of them are taken in gill 
nets. Pound nets are also employed in the capture of whitefish. 

Artificial propagation. Carl Miiller of New York and Henry 
Brown of New Haven are credited with the first attempt to pro- 
pagate the whitefish artificially. Their experiments were made 
in Lake Saltonstall, near the city of New Haven. The result 
of the experiments, which were repeated in 1858, is not known. 
In 1868 Seth Green and Samuel Wilmot began a series of ex- 
periments in the same direction, and in 1869 N. W. Clark, of 
Clarkson Mich, took up the same work. In 1870 a half million 
eggs were placed in hatching boxes by Mr Clark. In 1872, 
through the aid of the U. S. Fish Commission, Mr. Clark's hatch- 
ing house was doubled in capacity, and a million eggs were 
taken from Lake Michigan. Since that time both the national 
and state governments have made the whitefish the object of 
their most extensive operations. 

Dr Meek saw no specimens of whitefish from Cayuga lake, but 
he thinks it is an inhabitant. The U. S. Fish Commission ob- 
tained a specimen at Cape Vincent N. Y. Nov. 17, 1891. 

A young individual was received from Wilson, Niagara co. 
N. Y. ; caught in a gill net in Lake Ontario and sent by James 
Annin jr. 



228 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

A male and a female were received through James Annin jr 
from Upper Saranac lake Nov. 16, 1895. Both fish were nearly 
spent. They were believed to be the common white-fish. A 
male from Chazy lake arrived through the same source Nov. 22, 

1895. It was doubtfully called " blackfin whitefish." At that 
time the fish had left the spawning beds and were in deep water. 
June 17, 1896, a female 19f inches long was shipped by Mr Annin 
from Canandaigua lake. Its stomach is pear-shaped with walls 
more than J inch thick; it contained numerous small shells of 
several genera, not yet identified. 

The species is reported by fishermen to be very abundant in 
that lake, and to be destructive of eggs of other fish. They say 
it comes in great numbers into shallow water near the shore in 
early summer when the water is roily; and can be caught on 
set lines. Mr Annin saw men baiting their set lines with small 
minnows on Canandaigua lake, and, when the lines were taken 
up in the morning, the whitefish was found on the hooks. It 
is said that one so taken weighed 6 pounds. Sup't O. H. 
Daniels, of the New Hampshire fish commission, forwarded a 
specimen from Lake Winnesquam, at Laconia, 19J inches long, 
weighing 46 ounces, and tie wrote that individuals weighing 1\ 
pounds had recently been taken. The species was called " blue- 
fin " and whitefish. 

The fish-eating habit of the whitefish was fully verified in the 
aquarium on examples obtained in Canandaigua lake in November 

1896, by Mr Annin. Knowing that the species usually subsists 
on small mollusks and crustaceans, efforts were made to provide 
the fish with P h y s a and Gammarus; but this became 
difficult in winter, and an experiment was made with small 
killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus and m a j a 1 i s), 
which proved satisfactory during the cold months. In summer, 
however, it was found necessary to return to the use of Gam- 
marus. The whitefish at first took the killifish without any 
eagerness, but they soon learned to chase their prey and take 
it much as trout do. 

A female received from Canandaigua lake June 17, 1896, in 
a fresh state, showed the following colors: membrane of pectoral 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 229 

lins dusky; that of the pectorals tinged with lemon yellow; ven- 
trals dusky at the tip; anal pale; caudal pale except a narrow 
dusky portion of the middle rays ; eyes pearly with golden iri- 
descence. The maxilla reaches about to front of eye. The 
adipose dorsal extends straight backward, and its base is cov- 
ered with a sheath of small scales fg of an inch wide. The 
gill rakers are 9 + 17, the longest f of an inch. Very small teeth 
are present on the tongue. The eggs are minute. 

In a male example, 17J inches long, received ^Nov. 16, 1895, 
iroin Upper Saranac lake and nearly spent, no tubercles could 
he seen on the scales; but several of the males from Canan- 
daigua lake had them well developed. There is a great differ- 
ence in the development of the lingual teeth, some of our indi- 
viduals showing only a trace of them, and it seems as if there 
may be some relation between their condition and the sexual 
maturity of the fish. For example, in a male 14 inches long, 
sent from the fourth lake of the Fulton Chain Nov. 9, 1897, the 
lingual teeth were present in a large patch; in three males, only 
& little smaller but sexually immature, from Saranac lake Nov. 
11, 1897, the teeth on the tongue could be perceived by the 
touch only. The following measurements, in inches, and addi- 
tional notes, were made from the fresh fish. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Canandai- Upper Chazy 

gua lake, Saranac, lake, 

June 17, Nov. 16, Nov. 22, 

1896 1895 1895 

$ $ $ 

Length, including caudal 19% 17% 15% 

Length of middle caudal rays (from end 
of scales) 1 tS % 

Length of upper caudal lobe (horizon- 
tally) 

Length of longest caudal ray 

Depth of body at dorsal 

Least depth of caudal peduncle 

Length of head 

Diameter of eye 

Length of maxilla 

Distance from snout to dorsal origin .... 

Length of dorsal base 

Length of longest dorsal ray 



3 


3y 2 




3% 






4% 


31/2 




1% 




iy 8 


3% 


2% 


2v 2 


% 


% 


v 2 


1 


% 


% 


8 






2y 8 






2V 2 




.... 



230 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



MEASUREMENTS 



Canandai- 

gua lake, 

June 17, 

1896 



Upper Chazy 
Saranac, lake, 

Nov. 1G, Nov. 22, 

1895 1895 



Length of last dorsal ray % 

Distance from snout to ventral origin. . . 9 

Length of ventral 2% 

Length of ventral appendage % 

Distance from snout to anal origin. ...... 13 

Length of anal base 2 

Length of longest anal ray 1% 

Length of last anal ray % 

Length of pectoral 3 

Distance from snout to adipose fin 14 

Length of base of adipose fin 1 

Length of adipose fin % 

Width of base of adipose fin % 

Length of longest gill raker % 



3 s 



Taking the fish in the order above given, the gill rakers are: 
9 + 17, 10 + 16, and 9 + 17. The scales are: 10-76-8, 10-87-9, and 
11-81-10. The branchiostegals in various specimens examined 
are 9 to 10; divided dorsal rays, 10 to 11; anal rays, 10 to 11. 

Genus argyrosomus Agassiz 

This genus is very close to Coregonus, from which it 
differs in the larger mouth and more produced jaws, the pre- 
maxillaries being placed nearly horizontally, and the lower jaw 
decidedly projecting beyond them. Gill rakers very long and 
slender, about 30 on lower limb; vertebrae 55. These characters- 
are associated with the greater voracity and, in general, greater 
activity of the species of Argyrosomus. The species are 
numerous in the northern parts of Europe, Asia and North 
America, and all are valued as food. 

125 Argyrosomus osmeriformis (H. M. Smith) 
Smelt of New York lakes 

Coregonus hoyi Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. V, 658, 1883; Goode, Fish & 
Fish. Ind. U. S. pi. 197 B, 1884; not Coregonus lioyi Gill. 

Coregonus osmeriformis Smith, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. XIV, 2, pi. 1, fig. 2, 1895. 
Lakes Seneca and Skaneateles, New York. 

Argyrosomus osmeriformis Joedan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
468, 1896. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 231 

Body elongate, moderately compressed, slender; head less com- 
pressed than body, its greatest width equaling one half the dis- 
tance from tip of lower jaw to nape, the lower jaw projecting 
considerably even when the mouth is closed; mouth large, the 
maxillary reaching to the vertical through the anterior margin 
of the pupil; preorbital bone long and slender, more than one 
third as long as the head; supraorbital as long as the eye, four 
times as long as broad. 

The greatest hight of the body is considerably less than the 
length of the head, and is contained five times in the total length 
without caudal. The greatest width of the body is less than 
one half its greatest hight. The least hight of caudal peduncle 
equals the length of the orbit and about one third of the great- 
est hight of the body. Scales small, nine in an oblique series 
from the dorsal origin to the lateral line, 82 tube-bearing scales, 
and eight in an oblique series from the ventral origin to the lat- 
eral line. 

The length of the head is one fourth of the total length to 
the end of the lateral line. The distance of the nape from the 
tip of the snout is nearly one third of the distance from the tip 
of the snout to the origin of the first dorsal. The length of the 
maxilla is one third of the length of the head. The mandible 
is one half as long as the head. Lingual teeth present. The 
eye is as long as the snout and one fourth as long as the head. 
Gill rakers long and slender, the longest five sixths as long as 
the eye; there are 55 on the first arch, 35 of which are below 
the angle. The insertion of the dorsal is nearer the tip of the 
snout than the end of the middle caudal rays. The longest 
ray of the dorsal equals the greatest length of the ventral and 
is contained seven times in the total length to the end of the 
middle caudal rays (six and two thirds times in length to end 
of lateral line). The length of the pectoral is one sixth of the 
standard body length. 

The insertion of the ventral is midway between the tip of the 
snout and the end of the middle caudal rays. When the ventral 
is extended, the distance of its tip from the vent is only one 



232 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



fourth of the length of the fin. In this respect this species 
differs widely from C. a r t e d i . 

Colors. Back grayish silvery; sides silvery; dorsal and caudal 
with darker tips. 

Radial formula. D. iii, 9; A. ii, 13; V. i, 12; P. i, 16. Scales 
9-82-8. 

MEASUREMENTS 



Current number of specimen. 



Extreme length 

Length to end of scales 

Body: 

Greatest hight 

Greatest width 

Hight at ventrals , 

Least hight of tail 

Head: 

Greatest length 

Distance from snout to nape, 

Greatest width 

Width of interorbital area . . . 

Length of snout 

of operculum 

of maxillary 

of mandible 



Length 

Length 

Length 

Diameter of eye 

Dorsal (first): 

Distance from snout 

Length of base 

Length of longest ray 

Length of last ray 

Anal: 

Distance from snout 

Length of base 

Length of longest ray 

Length of last ray 

Caudal: 

Length of middle rays from end of scales. 

Length of external rays 

Pectoral: 

Distance from snout 

Length 

Ventral: 

Distance from snout 

Length 

Origin from anal origin 

End of extended ventral to anal origin. .. . 



Milli- 


32,162 

Hundredths- 


meters 


of length 


253 




217 


100 


41 


19 


18 


8 


40 


18 Mt 


15 


7 


52 


24 y 2 


36 


I61/2 


20 


9 


12 


514 


14 


6 Yt 


13 


6 


18 


8 


26 


12 


13 


6 


112 


51 Yz 


20 


9 


33 


15 


11 


5 


162 


75 


24 


11 


20 


9 


£ 


4 


12 


5y* 


44 


20 


52 


2414 


36 


16 Y% 


118 


55 


32 


15 


48 


22. 


15 


7 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 233 



MEASUREMENTS 



Milli- Hundredths 

meters of length 



Dorsal iii, 9 

Anal ii, 13 

Pectoral i, 16 

Ventral i, 12 

Number of scales in lateral line 82 

Number of transverse rows above lateral line 9 

Number of transverse rows below lateral line 8 



The attention of the writer was called to this graceful little 
whitefish by the Key. W. M. Beauchamp and J. C. Willetts. Mr 
Willetts forwarded numerous specimens from Skaneateles. 
Individuals were obtained also from Prof. H. L. Smith, which 
he received from Seneca lake. One of these specimens, 10 inches 
long, is described above. 

The fish was then somewhat doubtfully supposed by me to 
be identical with Hoy's whitefish, but it is now known to be 
distinct. 

126 Argyrosomus artedi (LeSueur) 

Lake Herring; Cisco 

Coregonus artedi Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 231, May, 1818. 

Lake Erie & Lewistown, Upper Canada; Jordan & Gilbert. Bull. 

16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 301, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penua. 69, pi. 26, fig. 48, 

1893. 
Salmo (Coregonus) harengus Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 210, pi. 90, 

fig. 2, 1836. 
Coregonus clupeiformis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 248, pi. 60, fig. 198, 

1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 198, 1866. 
Coregonus harengus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 199, 1866. 
Argyrosomus artedi Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 468, 

1896. 

The body of the lake herring is moderately elongated, com- 
pressed, and the head pointed. The greatest hight of the body 
at the origin of the dorsal is one fourth of the total length 
without caudal. The caudal peduncle is short and stout; its 
least depth is somewhat more than one third of its greatest 
depth. The eye is contained four to four and one half times 
in length of head; the snout three and one half times. The max- 
illary reaches nearly to below the middle of the eye. The lower 
jaw projects strongly. The dorsal begins midway between tip 
of snout and base of tail. Its longest ray equals length of 



234 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

head without snout. The ventral begins under the middle of 
the dorsal, its longest ray two thirds of length of head. The 
pectoral is slightly longer than the ventral. The anal base 
equals the length of its longest ray, which is nearly one half 
the length of head. The adipose dorsal is slender, its width 
one half its hight, and about one half the length of eye; 25 
to 30 gill rakers below the angle of the first arch. D. 11; A. 10 
(counting only divided rays in dorsal and anal); V. 10. Scales 
9-80-8. The upper parts are greenish or bluish black; the 
sides silvery and with narrow pale streaks along the rows of 
scales, specially above the lateral line. 

This species is known as the lake herring or cisco. The name 
cisco is applied more particularly in the small lakes of Wiscon- 
sin, Indiana and New York. The lake herring is most abun- 
dant in the Great lakes, extending northward into British 
America; eastward it has been obtained from Labrador. It 
becomes variable in certain parts of its habitat, notably in 
Labrador and in the lakes in which it is known as cisco. In 
1885 more individuals of this species were taken in Lake Erie 
than in all the other Great lakes put together, more than 
19,000,000 pounds having been caught there out of a total of 
less than 26,000,000. 

The average length of this species is about 1 foot, and the 
weight 9 to 12 ounces, but examples measuring 19 inches in 
length and weighing 2 pounds have been recorded. 

The lake herring frequents shoal waters moderately, and 
occurs in enormous schools, as one may judge from the quan- 
tity captured in Lake Erie. Its food consists of insects and 
crustaceans. During the spawning season of the whitefish, how- 
ever, it feeds exclusively on the eggs of this species and proves 
very destructive. The lake herring will take the hook, and has 
been caught with live minnows. Spawning takes place about 
the end of November in shoal waters. 

As a food fish this species is inferior to the whitefish, but it 
is in great demand over an extensive area of the country, and 
is shipped in the fresh condition many hundreds of miles east 
and west. I have elsewhere referred to the enormous number 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 235 

taken in 18S5 in Lake Erie. These are caught chiefly in pound 
and gill nets. The catch in 1885 amounted to more than one 
third of the entire quantity of fishes taken in this lake. There 
is no apparent diminution in the number of these fishes, and 
their artificial propagation has not been practised. 

A male and a female were forwarded by Mr Annin from Three- 
mile bay, Lake Ontario, Nov. 22 and 25, 1895. 

MEASUREMENTS 



Length, including caudal 

Length of middle caudal rays . . 
Least depth of caudal peduncle. 

Depth of body at dorsal 

Length of head 

Length of maxilla 

Diameter of eye 

Length of longest gill raker. .. . 



MAXR 
Inches 


FEMALE 

Inches 


13y 2 


13 


% • 




1 




3 


2y 2 


2% 


2y 4 


% 


Ys 


y 2 


y 2 


% . 




Scales of the 



The male has 17+31 gill rakers; the female, 47. 
male, 8-74-8; of the female, 76. 

In the female the maxilla reaches to the front of the pupil; 
the lower jaw projects a little; the dorsal and anal each have 
10 divided rays; the dorsal has a black tip; the pectoral is dusky 
above; the ventral and anal are pale; the caudal is dusky towards 
its margin. 

The cisco, according to Mr Annin, lives in deep waters and 
spawns in brooks in December. 

Dr Meek saw a few specimens of the species from Cayuga 
lake. The U. S. Fish Commission obtained four specimens at Cape 
Vincent N. Y. Nov. 11 and 17, 1891. The U. S. National Museum 
has a number of examples from Lake Champlain, some of them 
from Yergennes Vt., and others from Ticonderoga N. Y. DeKay 
says the shad salmon occurs in the smaller lakes in the interior 
of the state, which still communicate with our inland seas. 

127 ArgyrosGimis hoyi Gill 
Mooneye Cisco; Shiner 

Argyrosomus lioyi Gill, Mss. Jordan, Amer. Naturalist 135, March, 1875, 
Lake Michigan, near Racine, Wis.; Evermann & Smith, Rept. U. S. 
F. C. XX, 310, pi. 22, 1896; Bean, -Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 
342, 1897, Canandaigua Lake; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 469, 1896. 



236 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Goregonus hoyi Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 2, 275, 1878; Jordan & Gilbert,. 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 290, 1S83; Smith, Bull. U, S. F. C. XIV, 6, 
pi. 1, fig. 1. 189. 

Head, four; depth, four and four sevenths; eye, five (nearly); 
snout, three and one half; maxillary, nearly three in head, reach- 
ing to vertical through front of pupil. D. 10; A. 11. Scales, 
8-70-9. Gill rakers, 14+28, left side, 40 on right side, longest 
about J inch, about two in eye. Branchiostegals, 8. Body rather 
elongate, compressed, the back little elevated; mouth rather 
large, terminal, the lower jaw slightly longer than upper when 
the mouth is closed; tip of muzzle conical as in A. artedi; 
mandible nearly reaching vertical through posterior edge of 
eye, nearly two in head; head rather long and slender, with 
pointed snout; interorbital width equal to eye; supraorbital 
and preorbital long and narrow; distance from tip of snout to 
occiput two in distance 'from occiput to origin of dorsal fin; 
dorsal rays much longer anteriorly than posteriorly, the longest 
ray nearly equal to distance from front of pupil to end of head, 
the last ray only one third as long; longest anal ray two and 
one half in head, last anal ray two fifths as long as the longest; 
pseudobranchiae well developed; tongue with evident teeth. 
Color in spirits silvery, with purplish iridescence on back; scales 
without punctulations; belly whitish; dorsal and caudal fins 
dark on terminal half, pale at base; other fins all pale. Length, 
without caudal, 8 inches; total length, 9-J inches; depth If 
inches; head, 2J inches; eye, -fe inch; maxilla, \i inch; interorbital 
width equal to diameter of e3 T e. 

Mr Annin wrote me that the people at Canandaigua lake told 
him that there were large quantities of small lake shiners, as 
they are called, in the lake. A fisherman said that they are seen 
m immense schools at the top of the water occasionally, and, by 
firing a gun loaded with shot into them, men can stun them so 
as to pick up quite a number. They are eagerly sought after for 
trolling bait for the salmon trout found in that lake. 

This species is recorded with certainty from Lake Michigan 
only. It is taken in gill nets in deep water and, notwithstand- 
ing its small size, has become commercially important. It is 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 237 

here for the first time announced as a member of the New York 
fauna, and the description leaves no doubt of the correctness of 
the identification. The fish examined, a female with ripe eggs, 
was taken in Canandaigua lake, Dec. 19," 1896, by Mr Annin's 
men. It was the only one caught, and was captured by becom- 
ing gilled in the funnel of the net. Mr Annin is satisfied that 
this is the lake shiner of the fishermen, which they sometimes 
see in immense schools at the surface, and kill for trolling bait 
by shooting them. 

128 Argyrosomus prognathus (H. M. Smith) 
Long Jaw; Bloater 

Coregonus prognathus Hugh M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XIV. 4, pi. 1. fig. 3, 

1895, Lake Ontario, at Wilson N. Y. 
Argyrosomus Jioyi Milner, Rept. IT. S. F. C. II, 86, 1874, Outer Island, Lake 

Superior, not of Gill. 
Argyrosomus prognathus Eyermann & Smith, Rept. U. S. F. C. XX, 314, 

pi. 26, 1896; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 471. 1896. 

Body oblong, much compressed, back elevated, tapering rather 
abruptly toward the narrow caudal peduncle, the adult fish hav- 
ing a slight nuchal hump as in C. clupeifor m i s ; greatest 
depth tjiree and one half to four in body length; head rather 
short and deep, pointed, four to four and one third in length; 
greatest width half the length, cranial ridges prominent; snout 
straight, its tip on level with lower edge of pupil; top of head 
two in distance from occiput to front of dorsal; mouth large 
and strong, maxillary reaching to opposite middle of pupil, two 
and one half in head, length three times its width, mandible 
long, projecting beyond upper jaw when mouth is closed*, reach- 
ing to or beyond posterior edge of eye, one and three fourths 10 
one and seven eighths in head; eye small, five in head, one and. 
one half in snout, one and one third in interorbital space, one 
and one half in suborbital space; gill rakers slender, about 
length of eye, 13 above and 25 below angle. Adipose fin the 
length of eye, its width half its length. Narrowest part of cau- 
dal peduncle contained nearly four times in greatest body depth. 
Dorsal rather high, with nine or ten developed rays, the longest 
one half longer than base of fin and contained one and three 



238 NEW YORK STATE MUSEHJM 

fourths times in greatest body depth, three and one fourth times 
in distance between dorsal and snout, and one and one half 
times in head; free margin slightly concave; origin midway 
between end of snout and base of caudal; dorsal base opposite 
nine scales. Anal with 10 to 12 developed rays, the longest ray 
equal to base of fin and two thirds of hight of dorsal. Ventrals 
as long as dorsal is high, their origin midway between anterior 
edge of orbit and base of caudal. Ventral appendage short, 
covering about three scales. Pectorals as long as ventrals. 
Scales rather large, about 75 in lateral line, seven or eight above 
the lateral line, seven or eight below the lateral line. Lateral 
line straight except at origin, where it presents a rather marked 
curve. Sides of body uniformly bright silvery, with pronounced 
bluish reflection in life; the back dusky, the under parts pure 
white without silvery color. Above lateral line, light longitudi- 
nal stripes involving central part of scales extend whole length 
of body. Fins flesh color or pinkish in life, the dorsal and cau- 
dal usually showing dusky edges; postorbital area with a bright 
golden reflection; iris golden, pupil black. Branchiostegals, 
eight. Average length, 15 inches. . 

Habitat: Lake Ontario, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, and 
doubtless the entire Great lake basin, in deep water. This fish 
is called long-jaw in Lakes Michigan and Ontario. Specimens 
were obtained from John S. Wilson of Wilson N. Y. and from 
George M. Schwartz of Rochester N. Y. Dr R. R. Gurley also 
secured examples at Nine Mile Point N. Y. in June 1893. 

This species is quite different from any other whitefish inhab- 
iting the Great lake basin. It may be at once distinguished 
from all the whitefishes known to occur in the United States by 
the general form of body combined with the very long lower jaw, 
which is contained less than twice in the length of the head and 
extends backward to or beyond the posterior edge of orbit. 

129 Argyrosoxnus tullibee (Richardson) 
Tullibee; Mongrel Whitefish 

Salmo (Coregonus) tullibee Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 201, 
Cumberland House, Pine Island Lake. 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 239 

Coregonus tullibee Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 199, 1866; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 301, 1883; Jordan, Oat. Fish. N. A. 
43, 1885; Bean, Fishes Penna. 70, pi.* 27, fig. 49, 1893. 

Argyrosomus tullibee Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 2, 361, 1878; Evermann & 
Smith, Kept. U. S. F. 0. XX, 320, pi. 28, 1896; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 473, 1896; Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 
IX, 343, 1897. 

The body of the tullibee is very short, deep and compressed; 
its greatest hight about one third of the length without caudal. 
The head is pointed, as in the blackfin, the mouth large, with 
the lower jaw scarcely longer than the upper. The maxilla 
extends to below the middle of the eye. The eye equals the 
snout in length and is two ninths of length of the head. Scales 
much larger on front part of body than on the caudal peduncle. 
The gill rakers are long, slender and numerous, about 30 below 
the angle on the first arch. D. 11; A. 11. Scales in lateral line 
74, eight rows above and seven below lateral line; pyloric caeca, 
120. The upper parts are bluish; sides white and minutely 
dotted. The spermary, according to Kichardson, is wood brown. 

This species is usually called the tullibee, but in Lakes Erie 
and Michigan it is sometimes styled the mongrel whitefish on 
the supposition that it is a cross between the common white- 
fish and the lake herring. 

The tullibee has been taken recently in Lake Michigan; and 
Dr E. Sterling had a specimen from Lake Erie. It is found occa- 
sionally in others of the Great lakes and extends northward into 
British America; but is comparatively little known to the fisher- 
men and is very rare in collections. This fish grows to a length 
of 18 inches. 

The late F. C. Gilchrist was the first to describe the habits of 
the tullibee, and this he did in Forest and Stream in the following 
language. 

In September they will again be found gradually nearing the 
shoal water, feeding heavily, and plump with fat and the now 
swelling ovaries. Later on they appear to eat little or nothing 
and devote all their time to playing until about the 25th of 
October, when they have settled down to the business of propa- 
gation, which they have finished by November 10. They prefer 
shallow water close to shore with clean sand to spawn on, and 



240 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

during the day they may be seen in pairs and small schools, pok- 
ing along the shores, but at night they come in thousands and 
keep up a constant loud splashing and fluttering, very strange 
and weird on a calm night. Two years ago I carefuly counted 
the ova from a ripe fish 2\ pounds in weight, and found there 
wci v 23,700, closely resembling whitefish eggs in appearance, but 
somewhat smaller. After spawning the fish are very thin, lank, 
dull in color, and quite unfit for human food. 

James Annin jr furnished me the following notes on the 
spawning of the tullibee in Onondaga lake, N. Y. 

They generally commence running up onto the shoals about 
November 15, and the season extends into December. They come 
up to the banks or gravelly shoals and spawn in from 3 to 6 and 
7 feet of water. They have never been caught with the hook 
in this lake; and an old fisherman told me that he had tried 
almost every kind of bait, and had used the very finest gut and 
the smallest hooks baited with G a m m a r u s (fresh-water 
shrimp) and other kinds of natural food — that is, he supposed 
the food was natural to them. At the same time, he claims he 
could see them in large schools lying in the water 8 or 10 feet 
from the surface. 

A female tullibee was sent from Onondaga lake by Mr Annin 
Nov. 18, 1895, and another of the same sex Nov. 25, 1896. 

The following notes relate to the female obtained Nov. 18, 
1895. 

Inches 

Length to end of caudal 1SV 2 

Length of upper caudal lobe 2% 

Length of middle caudal rays. 1 

Least depth of caudal peduncle 1% 

Depth of body at dorsal origin. . . '■., 4% 

Length of head 3% 

Length of maxilla ,. % 

Diameter of eye % 

Length of longest gill raker tb 

The mandible projects slightly. B. 8; D. 11; A. 11; V. 11. 
Scales 8-75-8; gill rakers, 17+27. 

The female received Nov. 25, 1896, is 15 inches long. 

New York is well supplied with Coregonidae, having seven of 
the 16 North American species. C. quadrilateralis is 
the frostfish of the Adirondacks and the Great lakes. C. 
clupeiformis, the common whitefish, inhabits the Great 
Jakes and Lake Champlain; it is very abundant also in the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 241 

Adirondack^. Argyrosomus osmeriformis is a 
shapely little herring of Seneca and Skaneateles lakes. A. 
a r t e d i is the common lake herring or cisco of the Great lakes 
and Lake Champlain. A. h o y i , the lake shiner, or Hoy's 
whitefish, is above recorded from Canandaigua lake. A. 
p r o g n a t h u s, the long-jaw, the only summer spawning 
■whitefish so far as known, lives in Lake Ontario; and, finally, A. 
1 u 1 1 i b e e, is the fine whitefish of Onondaga lake. 

Genus oncorhyxchis Suckley 
Body elongate, subfusiform, or compressed; mouth wide, the 
maxillary long, lanceolate, usually extending beyond the eye; 
jaws with moderate teeth, which become in the adult male 
enormously enlarged in front; vomer long and narrow, flat, 
with a series of teeth both on the head and the shaft, the latter 
series comparatively short and weak; palatines with a series of 
teeth; tongue with a marginal series on each side; teeth on 
vomer and tongue often lost with age; no teeth on the hyoid 
"bone; branchiostegals more or less increased in number; scales 
moderate or small; dorsal fin moderate; anal fin comparatively 
elongate, of 14 to 20 rays; pyloric appendages in increased num- 
ber; gill rakers rather numerous; ova large; sexual peculiarities 
very strongly developed; the snout in the adult males in summer 
and fall greatly distorted, the premaxillaries prolonged, hooking 
over the lower jaw, which in turn is greatly elongate and some- 
what hooked at tip, the teeth on these bones also greatly en- 
larged. The body becomes deep and compressed, a fleshy hump 
is developed before the dorsal fin, and the scales of the back 
become embedded in the flesh ; the flesh, which is red and rich in 
spring, becomes dry and poor. Salmon, mostly of large size, 
ascending the rivers tributary to the north Pacific in North 
America and Asia, spawning in the fall. 

130 Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum) 

King Salmon; Quinnat Salmon; Chinook Salmon (Introduced) 

.£almo tshawytsclia Walbaum, Artedi. Gen. Pise. Ill, 71, 1792. 

■ Salmo quinnat Richaedson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 219, 1836; Gibabd, Pac. 

R. R. Exp. Fish. 306, pi. 67, 1858. 
*Qncorhynchus quinnat Guntheb, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 158, 1866. 



242 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Oncorhynchus orientalis Gunther, op. cit. 159, 1866. 

Oncorhynchus chouicJia Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 306,. 

1883; Stone in Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 479, pi. 186, lower fig. 1884; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. IX, 190, pi. XLVI, fig. 1, 1891; Fishes Penna. 

72, 1893. 
Oncorhynchus tschawytsclia Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

479, 1896, pi. LXXVII, fig. 206, 1900. 

Body stout, moderately elongate, its greatest depth contained 
three and two thirds to four times in total length without caudal; 
caudal peduncle short and stout, its least depth one third of 
greatest depth of body; head conical, pointed, its length one 
fourth of total length without caudal; eye small; less than one 
half of length of snout, and about one seventh of length of head; 
maxilla slender, its width scarcely one fourth its length, which is 
one half the length of head; nostrils nearly midway between eye 
and tip of snout; teeth small, longer on sides of lower jaw than 
in front, vomerines few and weak, disappearing in the males; 
gill rakers usually about 23, of which 14 are below the angle 
of the first arch; dorsal origin midway between tip of snout 
and base of upper external caudal rays, the base of the fin as 
long as the longest ray, one half as long as the head, the last 
ray two fifths as long as the longest; adipose fin over the end of 
the anal, its width scarcely one half its length, which is two 
sevenths of the length of the head. The anal base is three fifths 
as long as the head; the longest anal ray is two fifths as long as 
the head and more than twice as long as the last ray. The ven- 
tral is under the last rays of the dorsal, midway between front 
of eye and base of caudal, its length one half the length of head, 
its appendage one half as long as the fin. Pectoral as long as 
postorbital part of head. B. usually 17 or 18; D. 11; A. iii, 15 or 
16. Scales usually 27-146-29, sometimes as many as 155 in a 
longitudinal series. Vertebrae 66. Pyloric caeca 140 to 185. 

The quinnat salmon is the largest and finest of the Pacific 
salmon. It ranges from Monterey Cal. to Alaska and eastern 
Asia, ascending rivers in some cases 1500 miles or farther from 
the sea. It has been introduced into lakes of New York, but 
there is no evidence that it has become established in any waters 
of the state. Possibly better results might be secured if larger 
fish were selected for the experimental stocking. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 243" 

This is the largest fish of the salmon family, individuals 
weighing 100 pounds and measuring upward of 5 feet in length 
being on record from the Yukon and other Alaskan rivers. The 
average weight of adults is above 20 pounds. The flesh of this 
salmon is paler in color than that of the red salmon, but it is 
superior in flavor to all others. 

The quinnat is the first to arrive near the shores in the spring, 
and the time of the run depends on the latitude, becoming later 
and later till, in Norton sound, the present known northern limit 
of its migration, it appears early in June. Unless the spawning 
period be close at hand, it does not ascend rivers rapidly, but 
generally plays around for a few days, or even a couple of weeks, 
near the river limit of tide water. It has been estimated that it 
proceeds up the Columbia river at the rate of 100 miles a month 
till the exigencies of reproduction compel a faster rate of travel. 

In the sea this salmon feeds on herring, caplin, and crusta- 
ceans. A male of about 35 pounds, taken at Karluk August 4, 
had in its stomach 45 caplin. In fresh water the fish take no' 
food. 

Spawning takes place near the head waters of streams in clear 
shallow rapids. The fish excavate oblong cavities in the gravel 
beds where there is a current, and in these nests the eggs and 
milt are deposited. The eggs are protected from some of their 
enemies and fatalities by their environment, but are still a prey 
to freshets and to the pestiferous little fresh-water sculpins, or 
blobs, that abound in all trout and salmon waters, so far as ob- 
served. The young are hatched in from 60 to 100 days. They 
are destroyed in large numbers by aquatic birds, blobs, and large 
fishes. The adults are killed by seals, sea lions, and sharks. 
After spawning, nearly all the. parent fish die, specially those 
that ascend rivers a long distance. 

The quinnat is a very valuable fish for canning, salting and 
smoking. If it could be acclimated in the Great lakes, it would 
form the basis of new and important industries. The practica- 
bility of rearing this species in fresh waters without access to 
the sea has been satisfactorily demonstrated in France by Dr 
Jousset de Bellesme, director of the aquarium of the Troeadero. 



L'44 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The results of the experiment of introducing this salmon into 
New York waters are as yet unknown, but it is to be hoped that it 
will be successful. Since the change of method by which larger 
fish are employed for transplanting, the outlook appears to be 
more favorable. 

Genus salmo (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body elongate, somewhat compressed; mouth large, jaws, 
palatines, and tongue toothed, as in related genera, vomer flat, 
its shaft not depressed, a few teeth on the chevron of the vomer, 
behind which is a somewhat irregular single or double series of 
teeth, which in the migratory forms are usually deciduous with 
age; scales large or small, 110 to 200 in a longitudinal series; 
dorsal and anal fins short, usually of 10 to 12 rays each; caudal 
fin truncate, emarginate or forked, its peduncle comparatively 
stout; sexual peculiarities variously developed, the males in 
typical species with the jaws prolonged and the front teeth en- 
larged, the lower jaw being hooked upward at the end and the 
upper jaw emarginate or perforate. In the larger and migratory 
species these peculiarities are most marked. Species of moder- 
ate or large size, black spotted, abounding in the rivers and lakes 
of North America, Asia and Europe; no fresh-water species 
occurring in America east of the Mississippi valley; two Atlantic 
species, marine and anadromous. The nonmigratory species 
(subgenus T r u 1 1 a) are in both continents very closely related 
and difficult to distinguish, if indeed all be not necessarily re- 
garded as forms of a single one. The excessive variations in 
color and form have given rise to a host of nominal species. 

131 Salmo salar Linnaeus 
Atlantic Salmon 

Salmo salar Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 308, 1758; Seas of Europe; 
Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 435, 1815; De Kay, N. Y. 
Fauna, Fishes, 241, pi. 38, fig. 122, 1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 
Mus. VI, 11, 1866; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 142, pi. XXV, fig. 2, 1807; 
Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 312, 1883; Goode, Fish 
& Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 468, pi. 186, upper fig. 1884; Bean, Fishes Penna. 
74, color pi. 4, 189<3; Jordan & Bvermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
486, 1806; Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 344, 1897. 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 245 

The Atlantic salmon has a moderately thick and elongate 
body. The greatest hight, at the origin of the dorsal fin, is two 
ninths of the total length without caudal. The caudal peduncle 
is rather slender; its least depth about one third of the greatest 
depth of body. The head is comparatively small; its length in 
the female about one fifth of total without caudal. The eye 
is placed at a distance from the top of the head equal to its 
own diameter. It is one half as long as the snout, and about 
one seventh of length of head. The maxillary reaches a little 
past the eye in adults. Its length equals the depth of caudal 
peduncle. .The dorsal origin is midway between tip of snout 
and adipose fin. The adipose fin is long and narrow, its width 
one half its length, and equal to length of eye. The base is 
slightly longer than its longest ray, and nearly one eighth of 
total without caudal. The last dorsal ray is about one third 
of length of dorsal base. The ventral origin is nearly under 
the end of the dorsal base. The length of the fin equals one 
half the length of head. The appendage is two fifths of the 
length of the fin. The pectoral is as long as the dorsal base. 
The distance of the ventral origin from the anal origin is a 
little more than length of head. The longest anal ray equals 
length of ventral. The last ray is two fifths of length of longest. 
B. 11; D. 11 divided rays and 3 rudiments; A. 9 divided rays and 
3 rudiments. Scales 23, 120, 21. Vertebrae 60. Pyloric caeca 60 
to 70. In the adult the upper parts are brownish or grayish; 
the sides silvery. Numerous X-shaped or XX-shaped black spots 
on the upper half of the body, side of the head, and on the fins. 
Males in the breeding season have red blotches along the sides. 
In the young there are from 10 to 12 dark crossbars mingled 
with red blotches and black spots. 

The salmon in America has but a single common name. When 
the young have reached a length of 2 inches and taken on the 
vermilion spots and dark cross bands, they are called parr, and 
retain this name while they remain in fresh w T ater. Before 
descending to the sea in the second or third spring, the parr 
assumes a bright silvery coat and is then known as a smolt. 



246 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

After a sojourn in salt water lasting from four months to about 
two years, it may return to its native river either as a sexually 
immature salmon or as a grilse, the female not yet ready for 
reproducing its species though the male is sexually mature. 
The landlocked variety of the Atlantic salmon has been vari- 
ously denominated fresh-water salmon, Schoodic trout, Sebago^ 
trout, dwarf salmon and winninish, the last in use in the Sagi- 
naw region. In some Nova Scotian rivers a misnomer, gray- 
ling, is applied to the landlocked salmon. 

This species inhabits the north Atlantic, ascending rivers of 
Europe and America for the purpose of reproduction. In 
Europe it extends southward to France, and in the United 
States the most southern river in which specimens have been 
obtained is the Potomac. It occurs in small numbers in the- 
Delaware and in large numbers in the Hudson, but in the last 
three river basins mentioned its presence is the result of arti- 
ficial introduction. It is not found in abundance south of the 
Merrimac, and in rivers of New England and Canada in which 
it is native it is maintained almost exclusively by artificial 
culture. The usual weight of the Atlantic salmon ranges from 
15 to 40 pounds, but individuals weighing 60 pounds have bee» 
recorded. The growth of the salmon is accomplished chiefly 
in the ocean. As a rule the adults enter the rivers on a rising 
temperature when ready to deposit their eggs, the spawning 
occurring on the falling temperature in water not warmer than 
50°. The time of entering the Delaware and Hudson is April, 
the Connecticut a little later, the Merrimac still later; to the 
Penobscot the salmon come most abundantly in June and July; 
and to the Miramichi from the middle of June to October. The 
salmon is not much affected by changes in temperature of the 
water, enduring a range of fully 45°. The eggs are deposited 
in shoal water on sandy or gravelly bottom, the parent fish 
making deep depressions by means of their noses or by flopping 
motions of the tail. The period of egg-depositing lasts from 
5 to 12 days. The spawning season begins about the middle 
of October and may run into December. In some European 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



247 



Tivers the season continues till February. The eggs are about 
-one fourth of an inch in diameter, and the female is estimated 
to have about 1000 for each pound of her weight. In the 
Penobscot, according to the observations of Mr Atkins, an 
eight pound female yields from 5000 to 6000 eggs; and a female 
of 40 pounds about 15,000 eggs. The hatching period ranges 
from 140 to 200 days or more, depending on the temperature. 
A newly hatched salmon is about three fourths of an inch 
long, and the yolk sack is absorbed in from a month to six 
weeks. It then begins to feed on small organisms in the water. 
At the age of two months it measures \\ inches and begins 
to show crossbars and red spots, gradually coming into the 
parr stage. In the sea the salmon feeds on herring, caplin, 
-sand lance, smelt and other small fishes, besides crustaceans; 
but during its stay in fresh water it takes no food. 

Among the worst enemies of salmon eggs are trout, eels, 
-suckers and frogs. Numerous species of birds destroy the fry, 
among them sheldrakes, kingfishers, gulls and terns. 

The value of the salmon as a food and game fish is so well 
known as to require no description here. Those that find their 
way into market are usually caught in pound nets, gill nets 
or seines, and the bulk of them are taken at or near the mouths 
of the streams which they are about to enter for the purpose 
of spawning. Many are captured in the upper reaches of 
streams by the spear. 

Eggs of the Atlantic salmon, just on the point of hatching, 
from the Kestigouche river, Canada, were received at the New 
York aquarium from Percy Baker about May 1, 1897. Several 
hundred healthy embryos were obtained from them. These 
were reared almost without loss till June 18, when the temper- 
ature of the water had reached 76° and nearly all perished. 
November 27, one of the few survivors was 3| inches long. 
Liver was the principal food of the fry. 

Mitchill, in the first volume of the transactions of the Literary 
and Philosophical Society of New York, says that the salmon 
M has been taken, since the discovery, a few times in the Hudson. 



248 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

But here he is a straggling fish, and not in his regular home. 

There is no steady migration of salmon to this river. Though 

pains have been taken to cherish the breed, salmon has never 

frequented the Hudson in any other manner than as a stray." 

In 1842 DeKay published the following note: 

The sea salmon rarely now appears on our coast except as a 
straggling visitor. Such an occurrence took place in August 
1840, when a salmon weighing 8 pounds entered the Hudson 
river, and ascended it more than 150 miles, when it was taken 
near Troy. . . It now is only seen on our northern bor- 
ders, ascending the St Lawrence from the sea, and appearing 
in Lake Ontario in April, and leaving it again in October or 
November. They were formerly very abundant in the lakes in 
the interior of the state which communicated with Lake Ontario ;.. 
but the artificial impediments thrown in their way have greatly 
decreased their numbers, and in many cases caused their total 
destruction. I have seen some from Oneida lake weighing 10 
and 15 pounds. . . They are occasionally found in Lake 
Ontario during the whole year; but, as the same instinct which 
compels them to ascend rivers also leads them again to the sea, 
and as there is no barrier opposed to their return, we may pre- 
sume that these are sickly or possibly barren individuals. 

Experiments for restocking the Hudson are now in progress^ 

and it is probable that the river may again become a salmon 

stream. 

132 Salmo salar sebago (Girard) 

Landlocked Salmon (Introduced) , 

Salmo sebago Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 380, 1853, Sebago Lake,. 

Maine; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 153, 1866. 
Salmo salar var. sebago Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 312,. 

1883. 
Salmo gloverii Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 85, 1854; Gunther, Cat.. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 153, 1866. 
Sahno salar- sebago Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 4S7 r 

1896; Bean, Bull. A,mev. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 344, 1897. 

There are at least two well marked races of salar salmon 
which do not enter the sea but live permanently in fresh water. 
Both of these differ from the migratory salmon in several par- 
ticulars: they are smaller, their eggs are larger, they retain 
the parr marks much longer, they are more subject to disease 
attending the egg-producing season, and the young grow more 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 249 . 

rapidly. The ouananiehe of the Saguenay river country 
is the farthest removed from the typical sea salmon by its very 
much smaller size, larger fins and different pattern of coloration. 

The larger of the two landlocked salmon of the United States 
is found in the four river basins of the state of Maine, the 
Presunipseot, Sebec, Union and St Croix. Here the weights 
vary considerably, spawning fish ranging all the way from 3 
pounds to 10 or 12 pounds, while occasional individuals reach 
25 pounds. The Sebago form is the one that has been intro- 
duced into the Adirondack lakes and other New York waters. 
Spawning begins late in October, but is at its hight in November. 
Eggs are shipped in January, February and March, and the fry 
are ready for planting in June. 

At Green lake, Me., the landlocked salmon often endure a 
summer temperature above 80° F., but they refuse to take 
food when the water reaches 75°. 

This salmon has been introduced into New York waters from 
Maine, and appears to have become established in several locali- 
ties. A very fine example was obtained from the South Side 
Sportsmen's Club of Long Island, but it was injured in transpor- 
tation and never recovered. In April 1896 several individuals 
from Maine were presented by Eugene G. Blackford. One of 
these lived in a tank of salt water in the New York aquarium 
for 19 months, and was then frightened by visitors when the 
water was drawn low for cleaning, and injured itself so badly 
that it died after a few hours of struggling. The following 
measurements were obtained from the fresh fish. 

Inches 

Length 24 

Middle caudal rays from end of scales 1% 

Depth 4 

Least depth of caudal peduncle 1% 

Head 4% 

Snout VA 

Eye & 

Orbit % 

Snout to dorsal 9^ 

Dorsal base 2% 

Longest dorsal ray .... u 2% 

Last dorsal ray 1*4 



250 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Inches 

Snout to ventral ll^ 

Length of ventral 2% 

Snout to anal \ 16% 

Anal base 1% 

Longest anal ray 1% 

Last anal ray , V/ 8 

Snout to adipose dorsal 17% 

Width of adipose dorsal , % 

Length of adipose dorsal . % 

Length of pectoral 3% 

Upper jaw 214 

Maxilla 2 

The head has about 28 dark spots, the largest on the gill cover, 
oblong, f inch long. Body with many large and small black 
spots, a few with a pale ring around them, and some as large as 
the largest on the gill cover; one on the caudal peduncle of one 
side distinctly X-shaped. General color dark bluish gray; belly 
and lower parts iridescent silvery; fins all dusky; the dorsal 
with many black spots; eye pale lemon, the upper part dusky. 

Gill rakers, 9+11, the longest ■{%- inch. B. 11; D. 10. Scales, 
21-123-20. 

133 Salmo henshawi Gill & Jordan 

Lake Tahoe Trout; Red-throat Trout (Introduced) 

Salmo henshawi Gill & Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 2, 358, 1878, Lake Tahoe; 

Rept. Chief Eng. Part 3, 1878, App. NN, 1619, pi. IV; Jordan, Proc. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. I, 75, 1878. 
Salmo purpuratus var. henshawi Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 316, 1883. 
Salmo mykiss Cheney, Third Ann. Rept. N. Y. Comm. Fish. 239, color pi. 

facing p. 238, 1898. 
Salmo mykiss henshawi Jordan, Bull. U. S. F. O. IX, 14, pi. II, fig. 5, 1891; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 493, 1896. 
Salmo clarkii henshawi Jordan & Evermann, op. cit. 2819, pi. LXXIX, fig. 

208, 1900. 

Body elongate, not much compressed, its greatest depth one 
fourth of the total length without caudal; caudal peduncle 
rather long; its least depth equaling two fifths of the length of 
the head; head long, conical, slender, its length contained about 
four times in the total to caudal base; a slight keel on the top 
of the head; snout obtusely pointed; maxilla not extending far 
behind the eye, about equal to pectoral, which is three fifths of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 251 

length of head; gill rakers short and stout, about 18 on the first 
arch, of which 13 are below the angle; vomerine teeth in two 
long, alternating series; hyoid teeth rather weak, in a small 
patch; dorsal fin small, its last rays two thirds as long as the 
highest; anal fin rather high; caudal short and distinctly forked. 
D. 9 to 11; A. 12; B. 10. Scales 27 to 37-160 to 200-27 to 40; 
pyloric caeca 50 to 60. 

Color dark green in life, varying to pale green; the sides sil- 
very with a broad coppery shade which extends also on the 
cheeks and opercles; a yellowish tinge on the sides of the lower 
jaw and red or orange dashes between its rami; back every- 
where covered with large, roundish black spots; dorsal, adipose 
fin and caudal fin with similar spots, and a few on the anal; 
belly with black spots. 

The Tahoe trout is a large species inhabiting Tahoe lake, 
Pyramid lake, Webber lake, Donner lake, Independence lake, 
Truckee river, Humboldt river, Carson river, and most streams 
of the east slope of the Sierra Nevada; it occurs also in the 
head waters of Feather river, west of the Sierra Nevada, prob- 
ably by introduction from Nevada. 

The usual weight is 5 or 6 pounds, but individuals weighing 
20 to 29 pounds are recorded. 

Eggs of the Lake Tahoe (Cal.) trout were obtained by James 
Annin jr at Caledonia N. Y., and young fish reared at his 
establishment were sent to the aquarium in November 1896. 
They throve till the latter part of June 1897, when they were 
overcome by the warm water. They could not endure a transfer 
to the cooler salt water, like most of the other fish of the salmon 
family. 

At Caledonia station, according to Mr Cheney, this fish begins 
to spawn before the middle of March and continues for two 
months. The impregnation of eggs is from 90$ to 95$, but just 
before the hatching period a large number of the eggs burst and 
the embryos are lost. There is loss too between the hatching 
and feeding times, and the fry do not feed as readily as the 
brook trout. Altogether, Mr Annin, the superintendent of 



_.)-: NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

hatcheries, estimates the total loss between impregnation of 

the eggs and feeding of the fry as about 40^. After the fry 

begin to feed, they are hot more difficult to rear than brook 

trout. 

134 Salmo gairdneri Richardson 

Steelhead; Gairdmer's Trout; Salmon Trout (Introduced) 

Salmo gairdneiHi Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 221, 1836, Columbia 

River. 
Fario gairdneri Girard, Pac. R. R. Surv. Fishes, 313, pi. LXXI, fig. 1,. 

1858. 
Salmo purpuratus Gtjnther, Gat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 116, 1866, not of 

Pallas. 
Salmo gairdnerii Gunther, op. cit. 118, 1866. 
Salmo gairdneri Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 313, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. IX, 198, pi. XLIX, fig. 9, 1891, not fig. 10, 

which is young mykiss; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 498, 1896, pi. LXXXI, fig. 215, 1900; Cheney, Third Ann. Rept. 

N. Y. Comm. Fish. 241, color pi., 1898. 

Form of S. s a 1 a r . Body elongate, little compressed, its 
greatest depth two ninths of the total length without caudal; 
caudal peduncle short, its least depth three sevenths of length of 
head; head rather short, one fifth of total length without 
caudal, maxilla reaching far behind the eye, its length one half 
the length of head; eye small, two thirds of length of snout, 
two elevenths as long as the head; teeth rather small, vomerines 
in two long, alternating series about as long as the palatine 
series; gill rakers short and stout, about 20 on the first arch, of 
which 12 are below the angle; dorsal origin much nearer to tip 
of snout than to base of caudal, base of dorsal two thirds of 
length of head, longest dorsal ray one half the length of head 
and twice as long as last ray; adipose fin very small and nar- 
row, over the beginning of the anal; caudal fin moderately 
forked in the young; ventral origin midway between tip of 
snout and base of caudal, ventral fin one half the depth of body; 
anal base one half as long as the head, longest anal ray equal to 
postorbital part of head; pectoral fin one eighth of total length 
without caudal. B. 11 or 12; D. 11; A. 12. Scales from 137 to 
177, usually about 150-28; pyloric caeca 42; vertebrae 38+20= 
58. Color olive green above, sides silvery, head, back, dorsal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 253 

and caudal fins profusely covered with small black spots, no red 
between the rami of the lower jaw. 

The steelhead trout is found in coastwise streams from 
southern California to Bristol bay, Alaska. It spawns in the 
late winter and early spring; ripe eggs were obtained at Sitka, 
Alaska, June 10. Spent fish of this species are frequently taken 
with the spring run of the king salmon. 

The economic value of the steelhead is very great; the fish 
reaches a weight of 30 pounds, though the average weight is 
under 20 pounds, and the non-anadromous forms seldom exceed 
5 or 6 pounds. 

From information furnished by Mr Annin it appears evident 
that some of the eggs of trout received at Caledonia N. Y. many 
years ago from the McLeod river, Cal., as rainbows, really in- 
cluded both rainbows and steelheads. He finds certain females 
producing deep salmon colored eggs, while in the same pond and 
receiving the same food as other females which furnish very 
light colored, almost white, eggs. Some of the females also 
differ from others in going to the spawning beds nearly two 
months earlier. It is now known also that the McLeod con- 
tains a small-scaled form of the rainbow, known to the Indians 
as the no-shee, and this also may easily have been sent to the 
east under the name of rainbow. Striking differences in the 
appearance and habits of so called rainbows introduced into the 
various states, lend color to this supposition. 

Steelheads were obtained for the New York aquarium in No- 
vember 1896, from the IT. S. Fish Commission. They were 
hatched from eggs shipped from Fort Gaston Cal. to the station 
at Craig brook, Me. The length of the trout when received 
ranged from 4 to 4-J inches. After one year they were 10 inches 
long on the average, and weighed many times as much as thej 
did when received. None of them at any time showed a red 
lateral band such as is present in the rainbow, and they are- 
farther distinguished by the presence of white tips on the ven- 
tral and anal fins; the dorsal also has a small white tip. They 
have been kept almost from their arrival in salt water, and 



254 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

could not have been kept in the warm Croton water in June. 
The salt water never rose above 71-§° F and continued at this 
high temperature only 10 days. 

The K. Y. Fisheries, Game and Forest Commission planted some 
of these trout in a Long Island stream and some in a lake in 
northern New York. Those that were planted on Long Island, 
says Mr Cheney, when rather more than a year old rose to the 
fly of the trout fisherman and made a most gallant fight, but it 
is too early to tell the outcome of the experiment. The eggs 
are one fifth of an inch in diameter; they hatch in 42 to 50 days 
with water at 50°. 

135 Salmo fario Linnaeus 

Brown Trout (Introduced) 

Salmo fario Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 30, 1758; Bloch, Iehth. I, 121, 
taf. 22, & 157, taf. 23, 1785; Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 144, 
pi. 92, fig. 3, A & B, 1836; Day, Fish. Great. Brit. & Ireland, II, 95, 
plates CIX, fig,. 3, CXIII, OXIV, CXVI, fig.l, 1884; Bean, Fishes Fenna. 
78, color pi. 6, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Check-List Fish. N. A. 512, 
1896. 

Salmo fario ausonii Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 64, 1866. 

Salar ausonii Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XXI, 319, pi. 618, 
1848. 

The brown trout of Europe was introduced into the United 
States from Germany in February 1883 and in subsequent years; 
it has now become thoroughly acclimated in the fresh waters of 
many of the states. 

The body of this trout is comparatiA^ely short and stout, its 
greatest depth being contained about four times in the length 
without the caudal. The caudal peduncle is short and deep, its 
depth equal to two fifths of the length of the head. The length 
of the head in adults is one fourth of the total length without 
caudal or slightly less. The diameter of the eye is about one 
fifth of the length of the head, and less than length of snout. 
The dorsal fin is placed nearer to the tip of the snout than to 
the root of the tail; the longest ray of this fin equals the dis- 
tance from the eye to the end of the opercle. The ventral is 
under the posterior part of the dorsal; its length is about one 
half that of the head. The adipose dorsal is placed over the end 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 255 

of the anal base ; it is long and expanded at the end. The caudal 
is emarginate in young examples, but nearly truncate in speci- 
mens 10 inches long. The pectoral is nearly one sixth of the 
length without the caudal. In the male the jaws are produced, 
and very old ones have a hook. The maxilla extends to the hind 
margin of the eye. The triangular head of the vomer has a 
transverse series of teeth, and the shaft of the bone bears two 
opposite or alternating series of strong persistent teeth. D. 
13-14; A. 10-11; P. 13; V. 9. Scales 25-120-30; pyloric caeca 
38-51; vertebrae 57-58. 

On the head, body and dorsal fin usually numerous red and 
black spots, the latter circular or X-shaped and some of them 
with a pale border; a yellowish margin usually present on the 
front of the dorsal and anal and the outer part of the ventral. 
The dark spots are few in number below the lateral line. The 
ground color of the body is brownish or brownish black, varying 
with food and locality. 

Names. In European countries in which this species is native 
it bears the name of trout or brook trout or the equivalents of 
these terms. In Germany it is bacJiforelle; in Italy, trota; in 
France, truite. In the United States it is known as the brown 
trout and von Behr trout, the latter in honor of Herr von Behr, 
president of the Deutscher Fischerie Yerein, who has been very 
active in the acclimation of the fish in America. 

Distribution. The brown trout is widely distributed in conti- 
nental Europe and inhabits lakes as well as streams, specially 
in Norway and Sweden. Tributaries of the White sea, the Bal- 
tic, the Black sea and the Caspian contain this species. In Great 
Britain it lives in lakes and streams and has reached a high 
state of perfection ; in Germany and Austria, however, the trout 
is a characteristic fish, and our supply has been drawn prin- 
cipally from the former country. Moreau found it at an eleva- 
tion of 7000 feet in the Pyrenees, and a color variety is native 
to northern Algeria in about 37° north latitude. In the United 
States the brown trout has been successfully reared in Colorado 
at an elevation of nearly 2 miles above sea level; it is now well 



256 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

established in New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Missouri, 
Michigan, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, and several other 
states. This trout has proved to be well adapted to the region 
east of the Rocky mountains, which has no native black spotted 
species, though the western streams and lakes contain many 
forms in a high state of development. 

Size. Under favorable conditions the brown trout has. been 
credited with a weight of 22 pounds and a length of 35 inches. 
In New Zealand rivers, where it was introduced with unusual 
success, it now approximates equal size; but in most localities 

10 pounds, is about the limit of weight and 5 or 6 pounds is a 
good average, while in some regions the length seldom exceeds 
1 foot and the weight ranges from ■§ pound to 1 pound. In the 
United States a wild specimen, seven years old, weighed about 

11 pounds. In a well in Scotland an individual aged 15 years 
measured only about 1 foot in length. These illustrations will 
serve to show how much the growth of a brown trout is 
affected by its surroundings and food supply. The species has 
been known to become sexually mature when two years old and 
8 inches long. 

Habits. The brown trout thrives in clear, cold rapid streams 
and at the mouths of streams tributary to lakes. In its move- 
ments it is swift, and it leaps over obstructions like the salmon. 
It feeds usually in i;he morning and evening, is more active dur- 
ing evening and night, and often lies quietly in deep pools or in 
the shadow of overhanging bushes and trees for hours at a time. 
It feeds on insects and their larvae, worms, mollusks and small 
fishes and, like its relative, the rainbow trout, it is fond of the 
eggs of fishes. In Europe it is described as rising eagerly to 
the surface in pursuit of gnats and is said to grow more rapidly 
when fed on insects. 

Reproduction. Spawning begins in October and continues 
through December and sometimes into January. The eggs are 
from i to J of an inch in diameter and yellowish or reddish 
in color; they are deposited at intervals during a period of many 
days in crevices between stones, under projecting roots of trees, 
and sometimes in nests excavated by the spawning fishes. The 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 257 

parents cover the eggs to some extent with gravel. The hatch- 
ing period varies according to temperature from 40 to 70 days. 
Females aged three years furnish on the average about 350 
eggs each, but individuals of this age have yielded as many as 
700, and even at the age of two years some females produce 
from 400 to 500. When they are four or five years old, the num- 
ber of eggs has reached 1500 to 2000. The young thrive in 
water with a temperature of about 50° F. Sterility in the 
females is common, and breeding females have been observed 
to cease reproduction when eight years old. 

Qualities. The brown trout is in its prime from May to the 
last of September. Its flesh is very digestible and nutritious, 
-and deeper red than that of the salmon when suitable food is 
furnished; the flavor and color, however, vary with food and 
locality. Insect food produces the most rapid growth and best 
condition. This species has been so long known as one of the 
noblest of the game fishes and its adaptability for capture with 
artificial flies because of its feeding habits is so well understood 
that I need not dwell on these familiar details. 

The brown trout is remarkably hardy in captivity. A large 
female, received from Eugene G-. Blackford in April 1896, and 
placed in a salt-water tank at the aquarium, lived there and 
throve till 1898. During most of the time the trout was in salt 
water, but at certain intervals fresh water was substituted for 
a short time, specially when symptoms of fungus made their 
appearance. In November 1896 she excavated a shallow depres- 
sion in the gravel bottom and deposited a lot of eggs. The fish 
was extremely shy, and never lost its fear of the attendants. 
Liver and live killifish were used for its food. 

A very beautiful and interesting hybrid is produced by cross- 
ing the brown trout and the brook trout. The following is a 
description of this hybrid: 

Salmo (HYBRiD^fario+fontinalis) 
Hybrid Trout 
In a paper published seven years ago the writer stated, as a 
result of his studies, that, when a large-scaled trout is crossed 



258 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

with a small-scaled one, the hybrid will be large-scaled which- 
ever way the cross be made. The hybrid between the brown 
trout and the brook is a large-scaled form, and it is sterile as 
far as reported. The aquarium has had this hybrid from the 
South Side Sportsmen's Club, and from the New York hatcheries 
at Cold Spring Harbor L. I. and Caledonia. It is always a strik- 
ingly handsome fish, and grows to a large size; but it is far less 
hardy than either of its parents. The cross has always been 
artificially made, and never occurs naturally. Two specimens 
studied gave the following measurements in inches : 



MEASUREMENTS 

Caledonia N. Y. 0*kdale X. Y. 

June 10, 1890 Mar. 23, 1897 

Jaiues Annie jr G. P. Sladb 

Extreme length 9% 14% 

Length of middle caudal rays from end of scales . % 

Depth of body 1% 3% 

Least depth of caudal peduncle % 

Length of head 2 3% 

Length of snout % V/s 

Length of upper jaw V-A 

Length of lower jaw 1% 

Diameter of eye tb 

Distance from snout to dorsal origin 3% 

Length of dorsal base 1 ts 

Length of longest dorsal ray 1th 

Length of last dorsal ray % 

Distance from snout to ventral origin 4% 

Length of ventral 1% 

Distance from snout to anal origin 6 

Length of anal base % 

Length of longest anal ray VA 

Length of last anal ray % 

The Caledonian specimen has no hyoid teeth; the vomerines 
are in a very small patch on the head of the bone only. The gill 
rakers are 4+10, the longest about one half the diameter of the 
eye. It has about 124 tubes in the lateral line. Branchiostegals, 
10. The following color notes were taken from the fresh fish. 
Dorsal fin with numerous dark blotches resembling those of 
young rainbow; adipose long and slender, amber color with two 
obscure dusky blotches, one of these very indistinct; lower half 
of sides pink; ventral, anal and caudal pink; ventral and anal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 250 

with a milk white front margin, that in the anal limited behind 
by a dark line as in brook trout; sides reticulated with large 
meshes of lemon yellow interspersed with darker purplish or 
olive. Dorsal blotches are mingled with pale lemon. Pectoral 
pale vermilion. Eye silvery white with yellowish reflections. 

The specimen from Oakdale L. I. weighed 20 ounces. It has 
a triangular patch of vomerine teeth, as found in f o n t i - 
n a 1 i s, but continued behind by several teeth in a single row, 
the entire length of the vomerine series being tg of an inch. 

136 Salmo trutta levenensis (Walker) 
Loch Leven Trout (Introduced) 

Salmo levenensis Walker, Wern.Mem. I, 541, 1811; Yarrell, Brit. Fish. ed. 

2, II, 117, 1841; ed. 3, I, 257, fig. 1859; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 

VI, 101, 1866; Day, Fish. Great Brit. & Ireland, II, 92, pi. OXVI, fig. 2 

& 2a, 1884; Baird, Kept. U. S. F. C. XII, LVIII, 1886. 
Salmo trutta levenensis Jordan & Evermann, Check-List Fish. N. A. 512, 

1896. 

The Loch Leven trout of Great Britain was introduced into 
the United States from Scotland in 1885 and subsequent years. 
It is somewhat closely related to the European brown trout, 
Sal mo f a r i o , and has been artificially crossed with that 
species in the United States, so that it is sometimes difficult to 
find the pure bred Loch Levens in fish cultural establishments 
at home. 

The body of the Loch Leven is more slender and elongate 
than that of the brown trout, its greatest depth contained four 
and one fourth to four and one half times in the total length 
without caudal. Caudal peduncle slender, its least depth three 
eighths of the greatest depth of the body, and equal to length 
of snout and eye combined. The head is rather short and con- 
ical, its length two ninths to one fifth of the total length without 
caudal. The snout is one fourth or slightly more than one 
fourth as long as the head. The interorbital space is somewhat 
convex, its width equal to three fifths of the length of post- 
orbital part of head. The eye is of moderate size, its long 
diameter contained five and one half to six times in the length 
of the head, and equaling about twice the greatest width of the* 



260 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

maxilla. The maxilla reaches to or slightly beyond the hind 
margin of the eye. Teeth rather strong, those in the intermax- 
illary and mandible the largest, triangular head of vomer with 
two or three in a transverse series at its base, teeth on the shaft 
of the vomer usually in a single, partially zigzag, persistent 
series. Mandible without a hook and little produced even in 
breeding males. Dorsal origin distant from tip of snout about 
as far as end of dorsal base from base of caudal; the dorsal fin 
higher than long, its base one eighth of total length without 
caudal, its longest ray equal to longest ray of anal fin. The 
anal fin is much higher than long, its distance from the base of 
the ventral equaling length of the head. The ventral origin 
is nearly under the middle of the dorsal; the fin being as long 
as the postorbital part of the head. Pectoral equals length of 
head without the snout. Adipose fin very small, its width one 
half its length which is about equal to eye. Caudal fin emargi- 
nate unless fully extended, when it becomes truncate, the outer 
rays about one seventh of total length including caudal. D. 13 
(=iv, 9); A. 12 (=iii, 9); P. 14; V. 9. Scales 24 to 28-118 to 
130-26 to 30; pyloric caeca 47 to 90; vertebrae 56 to 59. 

Upper parts brownish or greenish olive, or sometimes with a 
reddish tinge, sides silvery with a varying number of x-shaped 
black spots, or sometimes rounded brown spots or rounded black 
spots which may be ocellated; occasionally red spots are seen 
on the sides, and the adipose fin may have several bright orange 
spots, or it may show a red edge and several dark spots; sides 
of the head with round black spots; dorsal and adipose fins 
usually with numerous small brown spots ; tip of pectoral black- 
ish; anal and caudal fins unspotted, but the caudal sometimes 
has an orange margin and the anal a white edge with black at 
its base; a similar edge may sometimes be observed on the 
ventral. 

The Loch Leven trout is a nonmigratory species, inhabiting 
Loch Leven and other lakes of southern Scotland and of the 
north of England. Its range in Great Britain and on the con- 
tinent of Europe has been greatly extended by fish cultural 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 261 

operations, and the fish is now fairly well known in the United 
States, though mixed to some extent with the brown trout, as 
remarked above. 

The Loch Leven trout has been recorded of the weight of 18 
pounds, but the average weight at 6 years of age is about 7 
pounds, though some individuals of that age may reach 10 
pounds. The natural food of this species includes fresh-water 
mollusks (snails, B u c c i n u m , etc.), crustaceans, worms and 
small fish. In captivity it is reared on liver, horse flesh, chopped 
clams and various other meats. 

As a food fish the Loch Leven is highly esteemed on account 
of the red color and the delicate flavor of its flesh when obtained 
from suitable waters; in some localities the flesh often becomes 
white from lack of food or improper food. 

The spawning season may begin late in September or early 
in October and continue till December. In Michigan it corre- 
sponds with that of the brook trout. The egg varies from about 
i to i inch in diameter. A trout weighing 2 pounds contained 
1944 eggs, the weight of which was J pound. 

The Loch Leven will take the artificial fly as readily as the 
brown trout and the brook trout. Its great size and strength 
add to its attractions for the angler. 

137 Salmo irideus Gibbons 

Rainbow Trout (Introduced) 

Salmo irideus Gibbons, Proc. Cal. Ac. Nat. Sci. 36, 1855, San Leandro 

Creek, Alameda County, Cal.; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 312, in part, 1883; Bean, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. XII, 36, pi. V, figs. 

2 & 3, 1894; Fishes Penna. 77, color pi. V, 1888; Ann. Kept. N. Y. 

Comm. Fish.; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. pi. 

LXXXI, fig. 216, 19O0. 
Salmo irideus sliasta Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 502, 

1896. 

Body short and deep, its greatest depth equaling two sevenths 
of the total length without caudal. The least depth of caudal 
peduncle equals one half the length of head. The head is short 
and deep; its length is contained about four and two thirds 
times in the total length without the caudal. The snout is short, 



262 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

not much longer than the eye, about one fourth the length of 
head. Diameter of the eye contained four and two thirds times 
in length of head; maxilla not quite reaching to below hind 
margin of eye; vomerines in two irregular series; gill rakers 
about 20. Dorsal origin a little nearer tip of snout than to 
caudal base. The length of the dorsal base is contained seven 
and one half times in total without caudal, and slightly exceeds 
longest dorsal ray; last dorsal ray one half as long as the long- 
est. Ventral origin is under middle of dorsal base; the fin is as 
long as the longest dorsal ray; the ventral appendage about as 
long as the eye; when the ventral is extended, the distance of 
its tip from the vent is one third of length of head. The anal 
base is a little more than one half as long as the head; the 
longest anal ray equals the longest dorsal ray; the last ray is 
not quite so long as the eye. Adipose fin short, its width nearly 
equal to its length and two thirds of diameter of eye. B. 11; 
D. 11 divided rays and 4 rudiments; A. 10 divided rays and 3 
rudiments. Scales 21-135 to 140-20. 

The upper parts usually greenish blue, sometimes purplish; 
the sides more or less silvery and profusely spotted with small 
black spots, which are most numerous above the lateral line; 
head, dorsal, adipose, and caudal fins also black spotted. Sea- 
run specimens are uniform silvery without black spots. In the 
breeding season the broad crimson lateral band becomes 
brighter, and the sides of both sexes are iridescent purplish. 
The jaws of the male in the breeding season are not much dis- 
torted, but they are very much larger than in the female. 

The rainbow trout is a native of the mountain streams of the 
Pacific coast and ranges from California to southern Alaska. 
A small example was taken at Sitka, in 1880, by Admiral L. A. 
Beardslee, U. S. N., and is now in the collection of the U. S. 
National Museum. This trout is found chiefly in mountain 
streams west of the Sierra Nevadas. It rarely descends into 
the lower stretches of the rivers, but occasionally does so and 
passes out to sea. The rainbow has been extensively intro- 
duced into many eastern states, but not with uniform success. 
In Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri and North Carolina it Jiag been 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 263 

well acclimatized, and it is also fairly established in New York. 

The average individuals of this species are less than 1 foot 
in length, but specimens measuring more than 2 feet and weigh- 
ing 13 pounds have been recorded. At Neosho Mo. the young 
have been artificially grown to a length of nearly 1 foot in a 
year. 

The rainbow feeds on worms, insect larvae and salmon eggs. 
In streams in which the California salmon and rainbow exist 
together, the rainbow is more destructive to the salmon eggs 
than any other species. Spawning takes place in winter and 
early spring, varying with temperature and locality. The bulk 
of the eggs are usually taken in January, February and March, 
and the average yield from each female is about 900 eggs. A 
few of the females spawn when two years old, but about one 
half of them begin at three years. The egg is from J to f inch 
in diameter; it has a rich cream color when first taken, changing 
to pink or flesh color before hatching. 

The rainbow will live in water of a much higher temperature 
than the brook trout will endure and it thrives in tidal streams 
and even in salt water. On Long Island, for example, the South 
Side Sportsmen's Club obtains a great deal of fine sport with 
this trout in the estuary of its trout brook. The flesh of the 
rainbow is generally much esteemed, and in most localities the 
game qualities of the fish are scarcely inferior to those of the 
brook trout. 

Large rainbow trout do not stand transportation well when 
ice is used to cool the water in which they are carried. They 
frequently injure their eyes, and become blind soon after the 
end of a journey. They are inveterate fighters, and the strong- 
est invariably rules and harasses the rest. Contrary to what 
has been stated heretofore, they will not endure high tempera- 
tures as well as the brook trout, at least in the aquarium. 

138 Salmo lemanus Cuvier 

Swiss Lake Trout (Introduced) 

Salmo lemanus Cuvier, Regne Anim. fide Giinther; Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. 

Brit. Mus. VI, 81, 1866. 
Salmo trutta Jtteine, Mem. Soc. Phys. Geneve, III, 1, 158, pi. 4, 1825. 



264 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Fario lemanus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XXI, 300, pi. 617 

(male) 1848. 
Swiss lake trout Atkins, Kept. II. S. F. C. XVII, XVIII, XIX, 1898 and 

1894. 

Head well proportioned in its shape, of moderate size, body 
rather stout; preoperculum with a distinct lower limb, oper- 
culum rather broad and high; snout of moderate length, rather 
produced in the male sex, in which a mandibular hook is devel- 
oped in the spawning season; maxillary longer than the snout, 
and at least as strong and broad as in S. f a r i o ; in specimens 
12 inches long it extends somewhat behind the vertical from 
the hind margin of the orbit. Teeth moderately strong, those 
on the vomer in a single series, alternately bent toward the 
right and left, persistent throughout life. Pectoral fin rounded, 
its length being less, and in young individuals more than, one 
half of its distance from the ventral. The caudal becomes trun- 
cate with age; in specimens of from 12 to 15 inches in length 
it is emarginate, the middle rays being half as long as the 
outer ones. The hind part of the body of moderate depth; 
there are 13 or 14 scales in a transverse series descending from 
behind the adipose fin forward to the lateral line. 

Back greenish, sides and belly silvery, numerous very small 
X-shaped black spots on the sides; opercles and dorsal fin with 
numerous black dots; the other fins greenish. D. 13; A. 12; 
P. 14; Y. 9. Scales 26 to 28-115 to 128-36; pyloric caeca 45-52; 
vertebrae 57 (once), 58-59. (After Gunther) 

Attempts have been made from time to time to introduce into 
large, cold lakes of the United States the fine lake trout of Lake 
Geneva, Switzerland. Eggs have been furnished to the U. S. 
Fish Commission by the Swiss government, and these were 
hatched at the Craig brook (Me.) station, and from there the 
young were distributed to lakes believed to be suitable for the 
experiment. In New York, the Adirondack League Club ob- 
tained 1000 of the young of this species in 1896 and deposited 
them in Green lake, in Herkimer county. The specimen de- 
scribed below is probably one of the results of that experiment. 
Swiss lake trout were furnished also to the New York Fish Com- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 265 

mission for planting in Lake George, and 100 yearlings were 
presented to the New York aquarium. 

A specimen taken in Green lake, Adirondack League Club 
preserve, Herkimer co., July 29, 1899, was forwarded to the 
U. S. Fish Commission, Washington D. C., and there described by 
Dr W. C. Kendall, from whose notes the following account is 
drawn. 

The total length of the specimen is llf inches. When first 
taken it was reported to measure llf inches. The body is 
moderately elongate, its greatest depth contained three and 
three fifths times in the total length to base of caudal. Head 
large, slightly more than one third of total length to base of 
caudal; eye rather large, about one fifth of length of head; 
snout long, about three tenths of length of head; teeth on jaws, 
palatines and tongue long, curved and sharp, those of the lower 
jaw longest, shaft of vomer long with a zigzag row of sharp 
teeth; gill rakers short, the longest one third of diameter of 
iris, 4 + 11 on right side, 5 + 10 on left side. Hight of longest 
dorsal ray two thirds of length of head. Pectoral five eighths 
as long as the head. B. 11-12; D. ii, 9; A. i, 8. Scales in lateral 
line 115. 

General appearance of Salmo salar sebago, from 
which it would probably not be distinguished by the casual ob- 
server if caught where the landlocked salmon occurs; but the 
1 e m a n u s is distinguishable by the heavier appearance for- 
ward of the dorsal fin. 

Color in spirits, brownish on back, top of head and sides of 
head; sides and belly very silvery; large roundish black spots 
above lateral line forward and on cheeks and opercles; perpen- 
dicularly elongate spots forward below lateral line; black of 
all spots most intense on edges of scales; posteriorly the spots 
show only on the edges of the scales, being variously crescentic, 
double or triple crescentic, X or double X shaped; fins pale 
with slightly dusky tinge; dorsal with 5 transverse rows of 
black spots. 

Mr De Witt, who sent the specimen, furnished the following 
notes on Green lake, from whence it was forwarded. " Maxi- 
mum depth 42 feet, with temperature at bottom at that depth, 
as far as I have been able to ascertain, about 40°. Has no 



266 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

outlet so far as we know. No brown trout have ever been put 
in it, and we take it for granted that the specimen I send is 
one of the ' Swiss trout.' " 

Genus cristi vomer Gill & Jordan 

This genus contains one or two species, large, coarse chars, 
distinguished from Salvelinus by the presence of a raised 
crest behind the head of the vomer and free from the shaft; this 
crest is armed with teeth. The hyoid teeth constitute a strong, 
cardiform band. The typical species is a large char or trout, 
spotted with gray instead of red, and found in the larger lakes 
of eastern North America. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

The species namaycush is found also in a lake (Henry) 
in Idaho, in the Columbia river basin, and northwestward to 
northern Alaska. 

139 Cristivomer namaycush (Walbaum) 

Lake Trout; Salmon Trout 

Salmo namaycush Walbaum, Artedi. Gen. Pise. Ill, G8, 1792. Hudson Bay, 
based on the Namaycush Salmon of Pennant; Richardson, Fauna 
Bor.-Amer. Ill, 179, pi. 79 & pi. 85, fig. 1, 1836, Great Lakes; Thomp- 
son, Nat. Hist. Vermont, I, 140, figure, 1842; Kirtland, Bost. Jour. 
Nat. Hist. IV, 25, pi. HI, fig. 2, 1844; Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 
VI, 123, 1866. 

Salmo pallidus Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 120, December, 1817. 
Lake George, Lake Champlain and other lakes; not ascending brooks. 

Salmo ametliystinus Mitchill, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 410, 1818. 

Salmo lioodii Richardson, op. cit. 17, pi. 82, fig. 2, pi. 83, fig. 2, 1836. 

Salmo confinis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 238, pi. 38, fig. 123, 1842. 

Salmo amethystus De Kay, op. cit. 240, pi. 76, fig. 241. 

Salmo adirondacus Noreis, American Angler's Book, 255, 1805. 

Salmo siscowet Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 124, 1866. 

Salvelinus namaycush Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 317, 
1883; Goode, Fish. & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 485, pi. 191B, 1884; Bean, 
Fishes Penna. 82, color pi. 8, 1893. 

Cristivomer nmnaycush Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 504, 
1896, pi. LXXXII, fig. 217, 1900; Bean, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 
IX, 348, 1897. 

The lake trout or Namaycush has a stout and moderately 
elongate body. The caudal peduncle is slender; its hight little 
more than one third of the greatest hight of the fish. The eye 
is large, placed near the top of the head, two thirds as long as 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 267 

the snout, and contained four and a half to five and a half 
times in length of head. The maxilla reaches far behind the 
eye; its length nearly half that of head. The origin of the 
dorsal is midway between tip of snout and root of tail. The 
length of the base equals length of maxilla; its longest ray one 
sixth of total without caudal. The ventral is under the hind 
part of dorsal; its length half the length of head. The append- 
age is very short, about half the length of eye. The fin, when 
extended, reaches nearly to the vent. The distance between 
ventral origin and anal origin is one fifth of total length with- 
out caudal. The anal base is about one third of length of head; 
the longest ray half of length of head; the last ray equal to 
eye. The pectoral is nearly two thirds as long as the head. 
B. 11 to 12; D. 9 to 10 besides several rudiments; A. 9 and 
several rudiments; V. 9. Scales of lateral line about 200. 

The coloration is extremely variable, generally grayish, in the 
variety known as the tuladi, nearly black. Alaskan specimens 
are usually very dark; occasionally the upper parts are pale. 
The sides are profusely covered with roundish pale spots, some- 
times with a reddish tinge. On the back and top of head there 
are fine vermiculations resembling those of the brook trout. 
The caudal in addition to numerous pale spots has many small 
dark blotches. 

The lake trout has received many names, among which are the 
following: Mackinaw, Namaycush, togue, tuladi, and salmon 
trout. Additional names of the species are lunge, red trout, 
gray trout, and black salmon. Togue and tuladi are names ap- 
plied in Maine, New Brunswick and Canada; Mackinaw and 
salmon trout in the Great lakes region, the latter used also in 
New York. Namaycush is of course an Indian name. 

The lake trout is native in the Great lakes region, lakes of New 
York and New England, Idaho and northward into Labrador, 
British America and Alaska. Extending over such a wide 
range of country, it varies greatly in size, form and color, which 
will in part account for the various names which it has received. 
It has been found above the Arctic circle in Alaska. 



268 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

This is one of the largest species of the salmon family resi- 
dent in fresh waters. It reaches a length of 3 feet, and speci- 
mens weighing 40 pounds are not uncommon. It is said that 
an example of 90 pounds and 6 feet in length has been taken. 
The species is found in its best condition in Lakes Huron, Michi- 
gan and Superior. In Alaska it grows to a large size, and is a 
very shapely and beautifully colored fish. 

The lake trout is one of the most rapacious fishes of its family. 
In Lake Michigan it feeds largely on the cisco and other small 
whitefishes. At Two Kivers Wis. a lake trout measuring 23 
inches was found to contain a burbot about 17 inches long. The 
gluttony of this species is proverbial. It will devour table 
refuse, and materials of this kind have frequently been taken 
from its stomach. Even twigs, leaves and pieces of wood have 
been taken by this trout. The species is much more sluggish 
in its habits than the brook trout, and is taken on or near the 
bottom. The gill and pound nets in which this species is princi- 
pally captured are set in deep water. 

The spawning of the lake trout usually begins in October and 
continues into November. For this purpose they come up on 
rocky shoals and reefs in depths of from 70 to 90 feet, and spawn 
near the edges of rock caverns, into which the eggs settle. The 
young are hatched late in the winter or early in spring. In some 
localities the depth of the spawning areas ranges from 15 fath- 
oms to only 7 feet. Mr Milner found 14,943 eggs in a lake trout 
weighing 24 pounds. In the hatchery, with a water tempera- 
ture of 47°, the young hatch about the last week of January, 
but their hatching may be retarded several weeks by lower 
temperatures. 

The fishery for the lake trout is most active in September, 
October and November, and the fish are taken chiefly in pound 
and gill nets. In some regions many of them also are caught 
with hooks. In Lake Erie a few large trout of this species 
weighing from 25 to 40 pounds are taken oft 2 the city of Erie. 
In 1885, according to the statistics of the U. S. Fish Commission, 
100,000 pounds of lake trout were taken in Erie county, Pa. 



FISHES OF NEW YdRK 269 

The only New York examples of lake trout were received from 
James Annin jr, Caledonia, in the fall of 1896. They lived and 
grew rapidly till the warm water killed them in June 1897. 
They could not endure transfer to salt water of a lower temper- 
ature, as so many other trout will do, and nothing else could be 
utilized to tide them over till the completion of the refrigerating 
plant. 

Owing to the extensive individual and race variation among 
trout referred to this species, it seems desirable here to give 
some notes and measurements made from individuals obtained 
from New Hampshire and Vermont. Two lake trout weighing 
about 4f pounds each were shipped in a can only a few inches 
longer than the fish, from Roxbury Vt. November 17, and, after 
an express journey of 20 hours without an attendant, one of them 
survived in good condition, while the other was nearly dead on 
arrival and died within one hour. The latter was a female, and 
appears to have injured itself severely by jumping in the can; it 
was not in good condition when it left Vermont. 12 large brook 
trout shipped with the lake trout in two cans arrived without 
injury; these and the lake trout were presented by John W. Tit- 
comb, Fish and Game Commissioner. 

Commissioner N. Wentworth of Hudson Center N. H. for- 
warded the New Hampshire lake trout, one from Newfound 
lake, the other from Lake Winnepesaukee. They were sent to 
determine whether the trout of the two lakes, which the fisher- 
men assert are different species, really are distinct. The com- 
missioner wrote that " the Newfound trout has darker flesh, 
more like the sea salmon. This is not caused by their food, as 
both lakes are alive with smelt. The Winnepesaukee lake trout 
are better biters; tons of them are caught through the ice 
every winter. The Newfound trout are hardly ever caught 
through the ice. A few were caught last winter for the first 
time to my knowledge. I am sure there is but one variety of 
lake trout in Newfound lake. We had one in our tanks this 
fall that would weigh 25 pounds." The only differences to be 
found on examination were such as relate to the depths at which 



270 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the two races habitually live; one is the slim, dark colored 
tiiladi, and the other the common lake trout of the Great lakes 
region. 

It is necessary, however, to call attention to the lake trout 
from northern Vermont which furnished one of the series of 
measurements given below. The gill rakers in that example are 
few in number and unusually short, four or five on each side 
being reduced to mere spiny tubercles. 

The following table gives dimensions in inches. 



MEASUREMENTS 



Newfound Winnlpiseo- Roxbury 
lake 



$ 

Length, including caudal 24y 2 

Length to base of middle caudal rays \ 21 

Least depth of caudal peduncle 1% 

Greatest depth of body 4% 

iThiickness of body 2% 

iLength of head 5% 

Length of snout 1% 

Length of postorbital part of head 3^4 

Length of upper jaw 2% 

Length of maxilla 2>/± 

Diameter of eye % 

Interorbital width 1% 

Distance from snout to dorsal 10% 

Length of dorsal base. . . . &. . . 2% 

Length of longest dorsal ray 3 

Length of last dorsal ray 1% 

From end of dorsal to adipose fin 4% 

Length of adipose fin % 

Width of base of adipose fin % 

Distance from snout to ventral. 12% 

Length of longest ventral ray 2% 

Length of last ventral ray 1% 

Length of ventral appendage % 

Distance from snout to anal 16 

Length of anal base 2 

Length of longest anal ray 2% 

Length of last anal ray 1 

Length of pectoral 3% 

Length of upper caudal lobe 3% 

Length of lower caudal lobe 3% 

Length of longest gill raker & 



gee lake 


Vt. 


$ 


$ 


27y 8 


22 


23% 


19% 


1% 




6% 


4y 2 


2% 


2% 


VA 


4% 


l% 


m 


3% 


2y 2 


3% 


2% 


3 


2 


% 


% 


2% 


iy 8 


12% 


10 


2V 2 


2y 8 


2% 


2% 


1% 


iy s 


1 5 


4% 


1 


% 


i% 


% 


14% 


11% 


2% 


2% 


1% 


.... 


% 


% 


18% 


i5y 2 


2% 


1% 


2y 2 


2y 2 


i 


% 


3y 2 


31/4 


3% 




m 




A 


TB 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 271 

In the Newfound lake fish we have : 

B. 11; D. 11; A. 10 (counting divided rays only); V. i, 8; P. i, 12. 
Scales 2^-195-34 (about 150 tubes); gill rakers, 9+13, the long- 
est a little more than one half the length of eye, the one in the 
angle club-shaped at the tip. It is a male with spermaries mod- 
erately small but soft. The body is gray, darker on the back. 
The outer edge of the pectoral and ventral and the front margin 
of the anal are white asinfontinalis. A white tip to the 
lower caudal lobe and a very small one at the top of the dorsal. 
Otherwise the coloration is like that of ordinary lake trout, 
which have the pectoral, ventral and anal chiefly vermilion in 
the breeding season. 

The male from Winnepesaukee lake has: 

B. 12 to 13; D. 10; A. 10; V. i, 8; P. 12. Gill rakers 8+12, the 
longest about one half as long as the eye. The ground color is a 
little lighter than in the Newfound lake trout, and the vermilion 
of the pectorals, ventrals and anal is less intense. The sper- 
maries are larger than in the specimen from Newfound, and in 
about the same stage of development; the body is considerably 
stouter. 

The female from Roxbury Vt. shows the following additional 
characters. 

B. 12; D. 10; A. 10; V. i, 8. Gill rakers 8+12, the longest 
exactly one half as long as the eye. The eggs and ovaries are 
small as in young females. The pectorals, ventrals and anal are 
chiefly vermilion, as in the male from Newfound lake. The body 
is silvery gray with numerous small, whitish spots, these present 
also on the dorsal. 

Hon. H. W. Sage is authority for the information that the 
lake trout was formerly common in the lake near Ithaca. About 
1830 a large individual was found stranded in Cayuga lake inlet, 
about 1J miles from the lake. 

Genus salvellms (Nilsson) Richardson 

Body moderately elongate; mouth large or small; teeth of 
jaws, palatines, and tongue essentially as in S a 1 m o , the hyoid 
patch present or not; vomer boat-shaped, the shaft much de- 



Z(Z NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

pressed, without raised crest, with teeth on the head of the 
bone and none on the shaft; scales very small, 200 to 250 in a 
lengthwise series ; fins moderate, the caudal forked in the young, 
truncate in some species in the adult; sexual peculiarities not 
strongly marked, the males with the premaxillaries enlarged and 
a fleshy projection at the tip of the lower jaw. Coloration dark, 
with round, crimson spots, the lower fins sometimes with mar- 
ginal bands of black, reddish, and pale. Species numerous in 
the clear streams and lakes of the northern parts of both con- 
tinents, sometimes descending to the sea, where they lose their 
variegated colors and become nearly plain and silvery. The 
members of this genus are by far the most active and handsome 
of the trout, and live in the coldest, clearest and most secluded 
waters. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

140 Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill) 
Brook Trout 

Salmo fontinalis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 435, 1815, near 
New York; Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 176, pi. 83, fig. 1, 1836; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 235, pi. 38, fig. 120, 1842; Gunther, 
Cat Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 152, 1866. 

Salmo canadensis Hamilton Smith in Griffith's Ouvier, X, 474, 1834, 
Canada. 

Salmo immaculatus H. It. Storer, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. VI, 364, 1850, Lower 
St Lawrence. 

Salmo erythrogaster De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 236, pi. 39, fig. 136, 1842. 

Baione fontinalis De Kay, op. eit 244, pi. 20, fig. 58, 1842. 

Salvelinus fontinalis Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. I, 81, 1878, in part; 
Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 320, 1883; Goode, Fish & 
Fish. Ind. TJ. S. I, 497, pi. 192, 1884; Bean, Fishes Penna. 80, color pi. 
7, 1893; Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat Hist. IX, 350, 1897; Bowers, Manual 
Fish Cult. ed. 2, color pi. frontispiece, 1900; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 506, pi. LXXXII, fig. 218, 1900. 

The brook trout varies greatly in the shape of the body, which 
is sometimes short and deep and again elongate and moderately 
thin. The depth is usually about one fourth or two ninths total 
length without caudal, and is about equal to length of head. 
The least depth of the caudal peduncle is a little more than one 
third of its greatest depth. The head is large and the snout 
somewhat obtuse. The eye is in front of the middle of its length, 
a little more than one half as long as the snout, and about one 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 273 

sixth of length of head. The dorsal fin is about midway be- 
tween tip of snout and root of tail. The length of its base 
equals about half its greatest depth of body. The longest ray 
equals length of ventral. The ventral origin is a little behind 
the middle of the dorsal. In the male, when laid backward, it 
reaches nearly to the vent. The length of the appendage 
equals that of the eye. The anal base is two thirds as long as 
the ventral, its longest ray equal to ventral. The adipose fin 
is short and stout, its width two thirds of its length and about 
two thirds of length of eye. D. 10; A. 9. Scales in lateral line 
225 to 235; six gill rakers above the angle of the first arch; 11 
below. 

The coloration is highly variable with age and locality. The 
upper parts are usually grayish much mottled with dark olive 
or black. The dorsal fin and anterior part of caudal base and 
top of head are also mottled. The caudal has narrow dark bars. 
The lower fins dusky with a, creamy white interior edge bound 
behind by a narrow black streak. On the sides numerous pale 
brownish blotches encircle small vermilion spots. 

The brook or speckled trout of the east is indigenous to the 
region east of the Alleghany mountains and the Great lakes 
region, extending from North Carolina on the south to Labra- 
dor on the north. The distribution of this trout has been won- 
derfully extended by artificial introduction, as it has always 
been a favorite with fish culturists. It is now to be found 
thriving in many of the western states and territories, and is 
particularly thrifty in Nebraska, Colorado, Nevada, and Cali- 
fornia. It has also been sent to Mexico and to European coun- 
tries. The average brook trout seldom exceeds 7 or 8 inches in 
length, and smaller individuals are much more abundant and 
require legal protection. In the northeastern part of its 
habitat the brook trout grows much larger, specimens weighing 
from 3 to 6 pounds being not uncommon; and in one of the 
Eangeley lakes an individual weighing 11 pounds is recorded; 
while Seth Green took a 12 pound specimen in the Sault Ste 
Marie, and Hallock mentions one which was said to weigh 17 
pounds. 



274 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The brook trout does not flourish in water warmer than 68°, 
and prefers a temperature of about 50°. It is an inhabitant of 
the cold, clear mountain streams, and will leave a region which 
becomes polluted by mill refuse and other hurtful substances. 
In the Long Island region and around Cape Cod, where the 
brook trout has free access to salt water, it has the habit of 
going to sea in the fall and remaining during the winter. It 
then grows rapidly and becomes a much more beautiful fish 
than many which live exclusively in fresh water. In hot 
weather, when the temperature of the streams becomes too high 
and lakes are accessible, trout seek the deep parts of the lakes 
and the vicinity of cold springs. In streams they are to be 
found in deep pools or in channels. They feed in spring and 
early summer among the rapids on insects and small crusta- 
ceans. 

The brook trout is a nest-builder. Cavities are made in the 
gravel, and the nest is shaped with the tail, and the larger 
stones are carried in the mouths of the parents. After the eggs 
are deposited, they are covered with gravel. The eggs are not 
all deposited at one time. Spawning usually begins in October, 
but brook trout are spawning at some locality in almost every 
month of the year except midsummer. The egg is about i inch 
in diameter, and varies in color from pale lemon to orange red. 
The average yield of the female is from 400 to 600. Livingston 
Stone has taken 1800 from a fish weighing 1 pound. 

The period of hatching will depend on the temperature, 
ranging from 165 days in water of 37° to 32 days in water 
of 54°. The yolk sack is absorbed in from 30 to 80 days, and 
after its absorption the young fish begin to feed. The rate of 
growth will of course depend on the amount of food consumed. 
In artificial culture yearlings, according to Mr Ainsworth's esti- 
mate, will average 2 ounces; fish of two years 4 ounces; of 
three years, 8 ounces, and of four years, 1 pound. 

The value of the brook trout as a food fish and its game quali- 
ties are so well known that I need hardly refer to them here. 

The brook trout is well adapted to domestication in aquarium 
tanks; it soon overcomes its fear of moving objects, takes its 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 275 

food regularly, and is always attractive because of its beauty 
and graceful movements. It will live in fresh and salt water. 
When it is attacked by fungus in fresh water, the parasite is 
easily killed by introducing salt water, gradually increasing in 
salinity, and the trout is not at all injured or inconvenienced by 
the treatment. In captivity the food consists almost entirely of 
chopped hard clams and liver for the young, while hard clams, 
live killifish and occasional earthworms are given to the large 
fish. The increase in size with such feeding is remarkable. A 
brook trout, from Caledonia X. Y., not more than 3-J inches long 
in Xovember 1896, measured 12^ inches in length and 3J inches 
in depth Dec. 10, 1897. 

A single young brook trout from Caledonia survived in water 
at 76° F but that temperature was generally fatal to the species. 

Dr Meek has found the trout in small streams on the uplands 
throughout the Cayuga lake basin. 

Mitchill knew this fish chiefly as an inhabitant of Long Island 
waters, and has given an interesting account of the fishing at 
Nichols, Patchogue and Fire Place, where a Mr Bobbins, in 12 
days in the summer of 1811, caught 190 trout weighing 139 
pounds. 11 ounces. The largest at Patchogue weighed 2^ 
pounds, the largest at Fire Place, 3 pounds. A Mr Purvis, of 
Xew York, caught a trout measuring 21 inches and weighing 4J 
pounds at Fire Place. 

At that time, according to Mitchill, the trout was " bought 
at the extravagant price of a quarter of a dollar for a single 
fish not more than 10 or 12 inches long," and Xew York anglers 
traveled "away to Hempstead and Islip for the pleasure of 
catching and eating him." 

141 Salvelimis alpinus (Linnaeus) 
Saibling (Introduced) 

Salmo alpinus Lixxaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 309, 1758, Lapland, West 

Gothland. 
Salmo salvelinus Lixxaeus, op. et loc. cit. Lintz in Austria. 
Salmo salmarinus Linnaeus, op. cit. 310, 1758. 

Salmo umlla Linnaeus, op. cit. 310, 1758, Lakes of Switzerland and Italy. 
Salmo ascanii Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XXI, 256, 1848, 

Norway. 



2«6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Sal mo Hvalis Gaimaed, Voyage en Island, Groenland, pi. 15, 1851, Iceland. 

Salmo KillughUi Gunthee, Proc. Zool. Soc. 46, 1862, Lake Windermere. 

Salmo grayi Gunthee, Proc Zool. Soc. 51, 1862, Lough Melvin, Ireland. 

Salmo colli Gunthee, Proc. Zool. Soc. 12, 1863, Lough Esk. 

Salmo pcrisii Gunthee, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. XV, 75, 1865, North Wales. 

Salmo l-llUnensis Gunthee, Proc. Zool. Soc. 699, 1865; Loch Killin, Inver- 
ness. 

Salvelinus alpinus Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Sterling Lake, New York & 
New Jersey; Joedan & Eveemann, Oheck-List Fish. N. A. 293, 1896; 
and Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 508, 1896. 

Salvelinus alpinus (Linnaeus) 

Salbling; Saibling (Introduced) 

Body moderately elongate, compressed, its greatest depth 
two ninths of total length to caudal base; the caudal peduncle 
short and stout, its least depth two fifths of length of head; 
head rather short, its length contained from four and one third 
to four and one half times in total length to base of caudal 
(middle caudal rays). The body is somewhat elevated at the 
nape and for a short distance behind it. Mouth large, the 
maxilla reaching somewhat behind eye, its greatest width less 
than one fourth of its length, the upper jaw one half as long as 
the head; eye rather large, nearly equal to snout, one fifth of 
length of head; interorbital space convex, one and one half times 
diameter of eye; lower jaw very slightly projecting; vomerine 
teeth in a very small patch on the head of the bone, lingual 
teeth strong, teeth on both jaws well developed, those of the 
mandible strongest; gill rakers short, straight, very slender, the 
longest one half as long as the eye, 11 above and 14 below the 
angle of the first arch. 

The dorsal origin is nearer to tip of snout than to base 
of caudal, its distance from the snout equaling twice the 
length of head; the dorsal base is as long as the postorbital 
part of head; the longest dorsal ray is two thirds as 
long as the head, and nearly twice as long as the last ray. 
Adipose fin twice as long as wide, as long as the iris, its origin 
distant from base of middle caudal rays a space equal to length 
of head without the snout; the fin is over the end of anal base. 
Ventral midway between tip of snout and base of middle caudal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 277 

rays, its length two thirds of length of head; its appendage as 
long as .the eye. Anal fin distant from ventral origin a space 
equal to length of head; anal base as long as snout and eye 
combined; longest anal ray equal to ventral and nearly two and 
one half times last anal ray. Pectoral as long as the head 
without the snout. Caudal well forked, its outer rays about as 
long as the pectoral fin. 

Color of the upper parts dark gray or greenish, the sides with 
a silvery shade passing into a deep red or orange on the lower 
half and, specially, the belly; red spots on the sides; lower fins 
margined with white and a blackish shade within the margin; 
sides of the head silvery; dorsal and caudal fins uniform dusky, 
unspotted. 

The saibling has been introduced into the United States, and 
a specimen was obtained from Sterling lake, N. J., Dec. 29, 1888. 
This was presented by A. S. Hewitt jr to Eugene G. Blackford 
of Xew York city, and by him forwarded to the U. S. National 
Museum for identification and preservation. The specimen is 
9f inches long. It does not differ in any way from European 
specimens with which it has been compared, as may be seen 
from the following description. 

The greatest hight of the body equals two ninths of the total 
length without caudal; the least hight of the caudal peduncle 
is two fifths of greatest depth of body and one third of length 
of head. Head large, one fourth of total length without caudal; 
snout equal to eye, four in head; maxilla extending to slightly 
behind orbit, its width nearly one fourth of its length; mandible 
slightly projecting. Dorsal origin nearer to tip of snout than 
to base of caudal; base of dorsal one half as long as the head; 
longest dorsal ray equal to pectoral and nearly two thirds of 
length of head; last dorsal ray one third of length of head. 
Adipose fin over the last two or three anal rays, its length 
about equal to diameter of iris. The ventral origin is under 
the fifth or sixth divided ray of the dorsal; the fin is as long as 
the postorbital part of the head; its appendage is not quite one 
third as long as the fin, and equals the diameter of the iris. 



278 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The anal base is four ninths as long as the head; the last raj 
of the fin is one half as long as the longest, which is one half 
as long as the head. The pectoral reaches almost to below the 
origin of the dorsal, its length two thirds of length of head. 
Caudal deeply forked, its middle rays less than one half as long 
as the outer, which are equal to length of head without the 
snout. 

The fish is an immature male with about 10 oblong parr 
marks on the sides and with a few narrow dark blotches simu- 
lating half bands on the back from near the nape to a point 
behind the dorsal fin; numerous pale spots along the middle of 
the sides, each of which no doubt had a vermilion spot in the 
center in life. 

Sterling lake is in New York and New Jersey; and it was 
stated that the trout are found in streams emptying into the 
lake. This is noteworthy as being the only instance, as far as 
known, of successful introduction of the saibling into our 
waters. 

142 Salvelinus alpinus aureolus (Bean) 

Swiapee Trout; Golden Trout; Silver Trout (Introduced) 

Salvelinus aureolus Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 628, 1887, Sunapee Lake, 
New Hampshire. 

Salvelinus alpinus aureolus Jordan, Forest & Stream, Jan. 22. 1891; 
Quackenbos, Trans. N. Y. Ac. Sci. XII, 139, 1893; Jordan & Ever- 
mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 511, 1896, pi. KXXXIII, fig,. 220, 1900. 

Salmo alpinus Garman, American Angler, Feb. 5, 1891. * 

The type of the description, no. 39334, was obtained in Sun- 
apee lake, N. H., in the fall of 1887 by Dr John D. Quackenbos. 

The length of the specimen to the caudal base is 6f inches. 
The greatest hight of the body equals the length of the head, 
and is contained about four times in the total without caudal. 
The least hight of the tail equals one third the length of the v 
head. The maxilla reaches past the middle, but not to the end 
of the eye; its length is contained about two and two thirds 
times in length of head. The length of the upper jaw is contained 
about two and one third times in the length of the head, and is 
equal to the longest, anal ray. The eye is a little longer than 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 279 

the snout, and is contained four and two seventh times in the 
length of the head. Hyoid teeth well developed. The first 
dorsal is a little nearer the tip of snout than to the base of 
caudal, and the length of its base is one half the length of the 
head. The adipose dorsal is distant from end of first dorsal a 
space equal to twice the length of the ventral. The anal is at 
a distance from the snout equal to about three times the length 
of the head. The longest anal ray is equal to the length of the 
upper jaw. The length of the middle caudal rays is equal to 
twice the diameter of the eye. The ventral is situated midway 
between the tip of the snout and caudal base; its length equals 
one half the length of the head. The length of the pectoral is 
about twice the width of the interorbital area. B. 10; D. iv, 9; 
A. iii, 8; P. 13; V. 9. Scales 35-210-40; gill rakers 6+10-12. 
The peculiarity of the gill rakers of this trout is that they are 
always curled up at the ends and not straight, as in the 
o q u a s s a from Maine. 

Sides silvery white. Back with about six well defined 
bandlike markings, besides some irregular dark blotches. 
There are about 10 parr marks on the sides, and numerous 
small, roundish, white spots. In colors this char is different 
from the o q u a s s a from Maine, but, if fresh specimens of the 
Maine trout were compared with this young fish, the difference 
in color might not be so great. 

The specimen described is a young male with the spermaries 
showing as a mere slight ribbon. Its stomach contained an 
earthworm and the wing cases of a squash beetle. The other 
two specimens (somewhat smaller) are females far from 
maturity. 

In a female, no. 37408, 11 inches in total length, both parr 
marks and bands across the back show very plainly. This 
female has a few free eggs in the abdominal cavity and seems 
to be nearly spent. In examples of this size the tail is deeply 
forked, the middle rays being less than one half as long as the 
external rays. 

In males the" pectoral is always longer than in females of 
equal size. 



280 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



The following color notes were taken from nos. 38321 to 
38328, collected by Col. Hodge in Sunapee lake, Dec: 10, 1886. 
Head and upper parts brownish gray, caudal the same, with the 
exception of a narrow white margin on the lower lobe; under 
surface of head, in most examples, brownish gray, in others 
whitish; belly orange, this color extending up on the sides but 
not to the middle line of the body; anal orange, with white 
margin in front; ventrals orange, with broad white margin on 
the outer rays; pectorals, gray upper half, and orange lower 
half; dorsal gray, lighter along the base; sides, both above and 
below lateral line, with numerous orange spots, fading out to 
whitish. The largest of these spots are little more than one 
third as long as the iris. No mottlings anywhere. 



MEASUREMENTS 

Current number of specimen 37408 $ 

Locality sunapee lake, n. h. 

Millime- 10 n ° f th8 
ter8 length 

Length to base of caudal 257 100 

Body: 

Greatest night 51 20 

Greatest width 25 9% 

Hight at ventrals 49 19 

Least hight of tail 21 8 

Length of longest gill raker. . 4 1% 

Head: 

Greatest length 54 21 

Distance from snout to nape. . . 36 14 

Greatest width 24 9 

Width' of interorbital area. . . . 18 6% 

Length of snout 11 4 

Length of operculum 13 5 

Length of maxillary 21 8 

Length of upper jaw 25 9% 

Length of mandible 31 12 

Distance from snout to orbit. . 13 5 

Diameter of orbit . . A 13 5 

Diameter of iris 9 3% 

Dorsal (first): 

Distance from snout 112 43y 2 

Length of base 28 11 

Length of longest ray 32 12% 

Length of last ray 15 5% 



39334 $ 

SUNAPEE LAKE, N. H. 



lOOths 
Of 

length 
100 100 



Millime- 
ters 



38 



23% 



36 


22 


13 


8 


2 


1% 


38 


231/2 


27 


16% 


18 


11 


11 


6y 2 


7 


4 


14 


&/s 


ioy 2 


10 


21 


13 


8 


5 


11 


6y 2 


8y 2 


5 


76 


47 


19 


11% 


21 


13 


12 


7% 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



281 



MEASUREMENTS 

Current number of specimen 37408$ 39334(5 

Locality sunapee lake, n. h. sunapee lake, n. h. 

Millime- 100 o V hs Millime- 10 °* h8 

tera length ters length 

Dorsal (soft) : 

From origin of first 90 35 60 37% 

Length along hind margin .... 9 3% 6 3% 

Length of base . 5 2 3 1% 

Anal: 

Distance from snout 183 71 117 73 

Length of base 22 8% 15 9 

Longest ray 28 11 16% 10 

Last ray 13 5 S 5 

Caudal: 

Length of middle rays from 

end of scales 18 6% 13 8 

Length of external rays 41 15% 32 19% 

Pectoral: 

Distance from snout 53 20% 36 22 

Length 37 14% 24 14% 

Ventral : 

Distance from snout 127 49 84 52% 

Length * 31 12 20 12% 

Length of appendage 14 5% 8 5 

Branchiostegals 10 .... 10 

Dorsal 9 a 

Anal S 8 . : . . 

Pectoral .... 13 

Central 1, 8 1, 8 

Number of scales in lateral line. . . .... .... 210 .... 

Number of transverse rows above 

lateral line 3^ .... 35 .... 

Number of transverse rows below 

lateral line 38 40 

Number of gill rakers ts .... w-12 .... 

Number of caecal appendages a 39 .... .... .... 

The golden trout is a native of Sunapee lake and Dan Hole 

pond, in Xew Hampshire, and of Flood's pond, in Maine. Doubt- 
less it exists in. other lakes of Xew England and British North 
America. 

It is a large species, reaching a length of 20 inches and the 
weight of 6 or 8 pounds; even larger individuals have been 
reported. Spawning takes place in Sunapee lake on reefs in 

shallow water and not in the streams tributary to the lake; the 

a In a , 37409. 



282 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

season is about the same as for the brook trout. The colors of 
the male in the breeding season are gorgeous, and the sight of 
a host of spawning fish in the water is one to be remembered. 
Many large and small trout of this kind have been deposited 
in Lake George and other suitable waters of the state. 

Family argentinidae 

Smelts 

Genus osmerus (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body elongate, compressed; head long, pointed; mouth wide, 
the slender maxillary extending to past the middle of the eye, 
lower jaw projecting, preorbital and suborbital bones narrow; 
maxillaries and premaxillaries with fine teeth, lower jaw with 
small teeth, which are larger posteriorly, tongue with a few 
strong, fanglike teeth, largest at the tip, hyoid bone, vomer, pala- 
tines and pterygoids with wide set teeth; gill rakers long and 
slender; branchiostegals 8; scales large, loose, 60 to 70 in the 
course of the lateral line; dorsal small, about midway of the 
body, over the ventrals; anal rather long; vertebrae about 40; 
pyloric caeca small, few. Small fishes of the coasts of Europe 
and northern America, sometimes ascending rivers; delicate in 
flesh and considerably valued as food. (After Jordan and Ever- 
mann) 

143 Osmerus mordax (Mitchill) 

Smelt; Ioe Fish 

Athcrina mordax Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 446, 1815, New 
York. 

Osmerus viridescens Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 230, May, 1818, 
Boston to Newport; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 243, pi. 39, fig. 124, 
1842, streams flowing into Long Island Sound, Hackensack & Passaic 
rivers; Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 197, 1846; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 
Mus. VI, 167, 1866. 

Osmerus mordax Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 293, 1883; 
Bean, Fishes Penna. 64, pi. 26, fig. 46, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 523, 1896, pi. LXXXVI, fig. 228, 1900; Ever- 
mann & Kendall, Kept. U. S. Commr. Fish & Fisheries for 1894, 
593, 1896, Lake Memphremagog & Lake Champlain. 

The smelt has an elongate and somewhat compressed body and 
a long, pointed head, with the lower jaw projecting. The mouth 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 283 

is large, the maxilla extending slightly behind the eye. Small 
teeth on the intermaxillaries and maxillaries and the front of 
the lower jaw. Posteriorly the teeth of the mandible are 
larger. The tongue is armed with a few large fanglike teeth, 
.and there are widely set teeth on the vomer, palate, and ptery- 
goid bones and at the root of the tongue. Gill rakers long and 
slender; branchiostegals eight; the dorsal small, nearly median 
over the ventrals; anal moderately long; scales large, thin, 
easily deciduous, in about 75 rows along the sides; lateral line 
short, not extending much beyond the end of the pectoral; a 
few small pyloric caeca. The hight of the body is nearly one 
fifth of the total length, without caudal, and nearly equal to 
the length of head. The eye is nearly one fifth as long as the 
head. The pectoral equals the longest dorsal ray in length and, 
also, length of anal base. The ventral is one half as long as 
the head. Longest anal ray not much more than one half the 
anal base. D. ii, 8; A. iii, 14; V. ii, 7. 

The upper parts are greenish; a broad silvery band along the 
sides; body and fins with numerous minute dusky points. 

The smelt is known along our east coast from Labrador to 
Virginia. It probably extends still farther north, but the record 
of TV. A. Stearns, published in the proceedings of the National 
Museum for 1883, p. 124, fixes the most northern locality known 
at present. He found the smelt common in August in shoal 
water off the wharves of Cape Breton. In Pennsylvania the fish 
is common in the spring in the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. 
In numerous lakes of Maine, New Hampshire, and other New 
England states, the smelt is common landlocked, and thrives 
as well as in the salt water. 

De Kay knew the smelt as a marine species ascending the 
Hackensack and Passaic rivers. The species occurs also in 
Lakes Champlain and Memphremagog. In the former lake it 
reaches a large size. At Port Henry N. Y. the fish is called ice 
fish. 

Its range has been widely extended by artificial introduction, 
which is very easily effected by transporting the fertilized eggs 



2£4 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

from the small brooks in which the species spawns. The eggs 
are adhesive and attach themselves to stones, and their trans- 
portation is accomplished very easily. 

The smelt grows to a length of 1 foot; the average size as 
found in the markets is about 7 inches. It enters the rivers for 
the purpose of spawning and is most abundant in the winter 
and early spring months. Spawning takes place in the Raritan 
river, N. J., in March. The eggs of the smelt have been arti- 
ficially hatched by Mr Ricardo, Fred Mather and other fish 
culturists. 

The smelt is an excellent food fish and is also used for bait, 
and still more extensively as food for landlocked salmon, lake 
and brook trout and other important salmonoids, which are 
artificially reared in lakes. It has proved to be one of the best 
fishes for this purpose. Immense quantities of smelts are 
caught during the winter months in nets, seines and by hook 
and line. They are usually shipped to market in the frozen con- 
dition, packed in snow or crushed ice. The fish which have not 
been frozen, however, are prized more highly than any others. 

The smelt begins to run into Gravesend bay in December and 
remains during cold weather. In the spring it ascends rivers to 
spawn. The eggs are small (- 2 -6 inch in diameter) and number 
496,000 to the fluid quart; they adhere to stones, twigs etc. on 
the bottom. Some females begin to spawn when only 3 or 4 
inches long. 

In fish cultural operations " the spawning fish, of both sexes, 
are placed in troughs, which are covered to exclude light, which 
is very injurious to the eggs. The eggs are naturally laid and 
fertilized, and become attached to each other and to the troughs. 
They are scooped up with a flat shovel, placed on wire trays in 
water, and are forced through the meshes of the trays to sepa- 
rate them. They are hatched in automatic shad jars, blanketed 
to exclude light. If during hatching the eggs bunch, they are 
removed from the jars and again passed through the meshes 
of the wire trays." 

The fry are hardy in transportation. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 285 

In captivity the adults live till about the end of June, when 
the water becomes too warm and they die. Their food consists 
mainly of shrimps and other small crustaceans. 

Order 1NOMI 

Lcmtern Fishes 

Family synodontidae 

Lizard Fishes 

Genus synodus (Gronow) Bloch & Schneider 

First superior pharyngeal cartilaginous, second without teeth, 
third and fourth separate, with teeth; lower pharyngeals sep- 
arate; body elongate, subterete; head depressed, the snout tri- 
angular, rather pointed; interorbital region transversely con- 
cave; mouth very wide; premaxillaries not protractile, very long 
and strong, more than half length of head, maxillaries closely 
connected with them, very small or obsolete, premaxillaries with 
one or two series of large, compressed, knife shaped teeth, the 
inner and larger depressible, palatine teeth similar, smaller, in 
a single broad band; lower jaw with a band of rather large 
teeth, the inner and larger teeth depressible, a patch of strong, 
depressible teeth on the tongue in front, and a long row along 
the hyoid bone; jaws nearly equal in front; eye rather large, 
anterior, supraorbital forming a projection above the eye; 
pseudobranchiae well developed; gill rakers very small, spine- 
like; gill membranes slightly connected; top of head naked; 
cheeks and opercles scaled like the body; body covered with 
rather small, adherent, cycloid scales; lateral line present; no 
luminous spots; dorsal fin short, rather anterior; pectorals 
moderate, inserted high; ventrals anterior, not far behind pec- 
torals, large, the inner rays longer than the outer; anal short; 
caudal narrow, forked; vent posterior, much nearer base of 
caudal than base of ventrals; branchiostegals 12 to 16; stomach 
with a long, blind sac and many pyloric caeca; skeleton rather 
firm. 



286 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

144 Synodus foetens (Linnaeus) 
Lizard Fish 

Salflio foetens Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII. I, 513, 1766, South Carolina. 
Esor salmoneus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. 1, 442, 1815, New' 

York. 
Saurus mexicanus Cuvieb, Regne Anim. ed. II, 314, 1829, Mexico. 
Souths foetens Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. V, 396, 1864. 
Synodus foetens Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 280', 1883; 

Bean, Bull. IT. S. F. C. VII, 148, 1888, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 

275, 1800; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 538, 1896, 

pi. LXXXVIII, fig-. 286, 1900'. 

Body slender, elongate fusiform, its greatest depth about one 
seventh of total length without caudal; caudal peduncle short, 
stout, its least depth equal to length of snout; head conical, 
sharply pointed, its length contained four and one third times in 
total without caudal; snout much flattened above, pointed, its 
length about one fourth the length of head, and nearly twice 
diameter of eye; jaws nearly equal in front or the lower included, 
maxilla reaching well behind orbit, the upper jaw as long as 
postorbital part of head; anterior nostril with a flap, posterior 
simple, the anterior nearer to eye than to tip of snout ; eye small, 
partly on top of head, two elevenths of length of head, about 
two thirds of interorbital width; teeth of upper jaw closing down 
over the mandible; dorsal origin nearer to tip of snout than to 
base of caudal, over the 18th scale of the lateral line, dorsal 
base one half as long as the head, longest dorsal ray equal to 
upper jaw, last dorsal ray one third as long as head; adipose 
dorsal very small and slender, its length not equal to eye; ventral 
equidistant from tip of snout and vent, the fin four fifths as 
long as the head; pectoral short and rounded, its length equal 
to snout and eye combined; anal origin distant from caudal base 
a space equal to one fourth the length without caudal, anal base 
three fifths as long as the head, longest anal ray one half as 
long as head without the snout, last anal ray one half as long 
as anal base; caudal deeply forked, the middle rays less than 
one half as long as the outer; interorbital space slightly concave. 
D. 10, the first two and the last simple; A. 14; V. 8; P. 14. Scales 
7-59-7; here described from specimens numbered 35936, TJ. S. 
National Museum, from Fire island, L. I. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 287 

Color of upper parts olive brown or grayish, sides below lateral 
line paler, belly yellowish, pectorals, ventrals and anal with a 
yellow tint, caudal dusky, dorsal with traces of narrow bars, 
inside of mouth and of gill openings yellow. 

The lizard fish reaches a length of 12 inches; it is found from 
Cape Cod to Brazil, being very common from Virginia southward. 
It comes into shallow waters during the summer and remains 
on the New York coast till October. It is a voracious species, of 
no value as food. 

Adults and young of this species are rather common in the 
Great Egg bay region, N. J. 

At Beesleys Point, Sep. 2, 1887, a small individual was found 
to have swallowed a Pleuronectes americanus, which 
distended the stomach of its captor laterally to nearly twice its 
normal width. 

Abundant in thoroughfares near Somers Point August 30. 
One individual taken is 7j inches long. Some very large ones 
have been seen; an example caught at Beesleys Point, Septem- 
ber 9, is nearly 9 inches long, and we have secured some larger 
than this. 

The species is unknown to the fishermen. 

The lizard fish, called sand pike by some authors, is the trout 
pike of Mitchill. Besides bearing these names, it is known as 
snakefish, cigar fish and spearfish. The species appears not to 
have been known to De Kay. It is very common in Great South 
bay, 36 specimens having been taken in the latter part of Sep- 
tember and the first two days of October. MitchilPs examples 
from the head of New York bay were from 8 to 9 inches long, 
in Great Egg Harbor bay, though it is a very common fish, the 
fishermen have no name for it. 

Order haplumi 

Pikelike Fishes 

Family umbridae 

-17 ud Minnows 

Genus umbra (Kramer) Mtiller 

Body oblong, covered with cycloid scales of moderate size, 
without radiating striae; no lateral line; head shortish, little 



288 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

depressed; eye rather /small; cleft of mouth moderate; ventral 
fins 6-rayed, below or slightly in front of dorsal; anal fin much 
shorter than dorsal; pectorals rather narrow, rounded, placed 
low, with 12 to 15 rays, which are much articulated; caudal 
rounded; preopercle and preorbital with mucous pores; branchi- 
ostegals six; gill rakers short, thick. Size small. Three species, 
very similar to each other, inhabiting the waters of the United 
States and Austria. 

145 Umbra limi (Kirtland) 
Mud Minnow; Dogfish 

Hydrargira limi Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. Ill, 277, pi. II, fig. 4, 
1841. 

Hydrargira fusca Thompson, Nat, Hist. Vermont, 137, 1842, Lake Cham- 
plain. 

Hydrargira atricauda De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 220, 1842, 

Hydrargyra fusca Stobee, Syn. Fish. N. A. 182, 1846. 

Umbra limi Gtjnthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 232, 1866; Jordan & Gil- 
bert, Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 350, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 88, 
1893; Jobdan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 623, 1896. 

The mud minnow has a comparatively short and stout body, its 
depth not equal" to the length of the head and about one fourth 
of total without caudal. The length of the head equals two 
sevenths of the total. The head is flattened above and rather 
large. D. 14; A. 9; V. 6. Scales in lateral line 35, in transverse 
series 15. 

The color is dark olive or greenish, and the sides have irregular, 
narrow, pale bars, which are sometimes obscure or absent. A 
black bar at the base of the tail. 

The mud minnow, mud dace or dogfish is found in the Great" 
lakes region from Lake Champlain to Minnesota, being most 
abundant in Wisconsin. It is occasionally taken in the Ohio 
valley. It was not found by I)r Meek at Ithaca; but was taken 
in small numbers near Cayuga and Montezuma. The fish was 
taken by U. S. Fish Commission collectors in Griffon creek, Chau- 
mont N. Y. July 7, and in Mill creek, Sacketts Harbor N. Y. 
July 2. De Kay had specimens from Lake Champlain. 

It grows to a length of 4 inches. It has no value whatever 
except as food for other species. Like the related mud minnow 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 289 

next mentioned, it is hardy and interesting in the aquarium. 
The name mud minnow relates to a singular habit of the fish of 
burrowing into the mud when the water evaporates out of a 
pond. It has been related that this fish has been plowed up in 
ponds and swamps which have become dried out. Prof. Baird 
has recorded the following fact about this species. " A locality 
which with the water perfectly clear, will appear destitute of fish 
w T ill perhaps yield a number of mudfish on stirring up the mud 
on the bottom and drawing a seine through it. Ditches on the 
plains of Wisconsin or mere bog holes affording lodgment 
to nothing beyond tadpoles may thus be found full of 
m e 1 a n u r a s." 

The mud minnow shipped from Caledonia X. Y. by James 
Annin jr in wet moss has survived a 12 hours' journey; but it 
has never proved hardy either in balanced tanks or in running 
water. This is remarkable, because there is evidence to prove 
that the species can endure alternate freezing and thawing with- 
out permanent injury. 

146 Umbra pygmaea (De Kay) 
Striped Mud Minnow 

Leuciscits pygmaeus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 214, pi. 42, fig. 134, 
1842, Tappan, Rockland Co., N. Y.; Stoker, Syn. Fish. N. A. 162, 1846. 

Fundulus fusciis Ayres, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 296, pi. XIII, fig. 2, 1844, 
Brookhaven, Long Island. 

Melanura annulata Agassiz. Ainer. Jour. Sci. Arts, 135, 1854. 

Umbra pygmaea Jordan, Bull. U. S. Nat. Mus. X, 53, 1877; Bean, Fishes 
Penna. 88, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 624, 
1896, pi. XCIX, fig. 268, 1900; Mearns, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 
X, 317, 1898. 

Umbra limi pygmaea Blatchley, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 13, 1885. 

Melanura pygmaea Bean, Bull. IT. S. F. C. VII, 147, 1888. 

The body of the mud minnow is oblong, robust; its greatest 
depth is contained slightly more than four times in the total 
length without the caudal and not equal to length of head. The 
snout is short ; eye moderate about equal to snout, four and one 
lialf in head. Cardiform teeth on premaxillaries, lower jaw, 
vomer and palatine bones. The gill openings are very wide, the 
rakers short and rather numerous; jaws short, gape of mouth 



290 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

rather wide. The body is covered with rather large cycloid 
scales, aod the head is almost entirely scaled. D. 14; A. 8. 
Scales eight or nine in a transverse series, 35 from head to tail. 

Color dark green, more or less mottled (in spirits brownish); 
sides with a dozen pale longitudinal streaks, regularly ar- 
ranged; a darker stripe through eye; black bar at base of tail, 
which is present in very young examples as well as in the adult. 

The eastern mud minnow is found from New York to South 
Carolina in Atlantic streams. According to Prof. Cope it is 
very common near Philadelphia. De Kay had very small indi- 
viduals from brooks near Tappan, Rockland co. N. Y. Dr Theo- 
dore Gill collected specimens in the same county in 1855. 

The species grows to a length of about 5 inches, and is well 
adapted for aquarium life, but has no other value except as food 
for larger fishes. Its habits are similar to those of the species 
last described. 

The body is stouter than in Umbra 1 i m i ; the head is 
broader, less flattened on top, with a larger eye, shorter snout 
and the profile more convex. 

The dogfish is a most peculiar fish, as voracious as a pike and 
as tough-lived as a catfish. It requires but little water and 
can often be dug from the moist mud of ditches the water of 
which has evaporated. None may be found in a stream, but 
the puddles and muskrat holes alongside may be full of them. 
It is a good deal of an air-breather, rising to the surface to gulp 
in air and then descending again, in the fashion of the paradise 
fish. In the aquarium it is very hardy and apt to annoy other 
species by driving them around and attacking their fins. When 
exposed to the air in freezing weather, it succumbs almost 
instantly, also when put into water containing much lime; on 
the other hand, hot weather does not in the least trouble it, 
except that it gets its supply of air more frequently. 

In movement it is very erratic, now dashing about as if mad, 
again standing perfectly motionless in the water, only moving 
the pectorals and ventrals " like a dog, running," again only 
moving pectorals and the rear part of the dorsal or the latter 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 291 

fin alone. It can turn its head sideways at an angle and remain 
awhile in that position. 

When feeding, it gorges the morsel at one attempt, after star- 
ing at it a while. Sometimes when overfed, the dogfish can not 
swim about at all, but lies like a log on the bottom. (After 

Eugene Smith 1 ) 

Family luciidae 

Pikes 

Genus lucius Rafinesque 

Body elongate, not elevated, more or less compressed pos- 
teriorly, broad anteriorly; head long, the snout prolonged and 
depressed; mouth very large, its cleft forming about half the 
length of the head; lower jaw the longer; upper jaw not pro- 
tractile, most of its margin formed by the maxillaries, which 
are quite long and provided with a supplemental bone, pre- 
maxillaries, vomer and palatines with broad bands of strong 
cardiform teeth which are more or less movable; lower jaw with 
strong teeth of different sizes; tongue with a band of small 
teeth; head naked above; cheeks and opercles more or less 
scaly; gill openings very wide; gill membranes separate, free 
from the isthmus; gill rakers tuberclelike, toothed; branchio- 
stegals 12 to 20; scales small; lateral line weak, obsolete in 
young specimens, developed in the adult; dorsal posterior, 
opposite and similar to anal; caudal fin emarginate; pectoral 
fins small, inserted low; ventrals rather posterior; vent normal; 
no adipose fin; no barbels; stomach not caecal, without pyloric 
appendages; pseudobranchiae glandular, hidden; air bladder 
simple. Basis cranii double (Cope). Fishes of moderate or 
large size, inhabiting the fresh waters of the northern parts of 
Europe, Asia and North America. 

The genus Lucius is readily subdivided into three groups 
distinguished by their size, scaling and coloration. In the first 
group are three species of true pickerels, in which the cheeks 
and opercles are entirely scaly, the color is greenish, usually 
with dark reticulations, and the largest species reaches a 

1 Linn. soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 27-28. 



292 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

length of about 2 feet. To this group the subgeneric name 
Kenoza is sometimes applied; it includes the banded pick- 
erel, the little pickerel and the chain pickerel, all of which 
occur in New York. 

147 Lucius americanus (Gmelm) 
Banded Pickerel 

Esox lucius t 3 americanus Gmelin, Syst. Nat. 1390, 1788, Long Island, New 

York. 
Esox niger Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 415, 1818, Lake Sara- 
toga, New York; Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 185, 1846: Gunther, Gat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 229, 1866. 
Esox scomberius Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 322, March, 1818, 

Murderer's Creek, New York. 
Esox fasciatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 224, pi. 34, fig. 110, 1842, 

streams and ponds of Long Island. 
Esox raveneli Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. 201, 1860, Charleston, S. C. 
Esox americanus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 352, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 89, pi. 28, fig. 53, 1893. 
Lucius americanus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 626, 

1896. 

The banded pickerel has an elongate body; its depth con- 
tained about five times in the total length without caudal; the 
length of the head three and one fourth times in the standard 
length. The snout is contained two and two thirds times in 
the length of the head, and the eye five and one half times in 
the same length. The maxillary extends to vertical through 
middle of eye; the lower jaw projects considerably beyond the 
upper. Teeth in the jaws strong, directed backwards. The 
ventral is placed in middle of body, the dorsal and anal fins far 
back, opposite each other; their longest rays of about the same 
length, much longer than the bases of the fins. Caudal deeply 
emarginate. B. 11-13; D. 11-14; A. 11-12. Scales in lateral 
line 105. The body is usually dark green, sometimes brownish 
black, above; the sides greenish yellow with about 20 dark 
curved bars, which are generally very distinct; dorsal and 
caudal fins dark brown, the other fins lighter, sometimes red- 
dish; a dark bar from the eye to angle of jaw, another from the 
snout through the eye to upper edge of opercle. 

The banded pickerel is probably identical with the " mackerel 
pike " of Mitchill. It is a small fish, seldom exceeding 12 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 293 

inches in length, and will not average more than \ pound in 
weight. It occurs only east of the Alleghanies, from Massa- 
chusetts to Florida in coastwise streams. In Pennsylvania it 
is limited to waters in the eastern part of the state, and the 
same is true in New York. 

This pickerel is too small to have much importance as a food 
iish. It resembles in general appearance and habits the little 
pickerel of the west. It frequents clear, cold and rapid brooks 
and is said to associate with the brook trout without injury to 
the latter. 

Dec. 30, 1895, James Annin jr sent from Rockland N. Y. a 
small pickerel which had attracted his attention on account of 
its colors and markings. It was taken in a small spring brook, 
tributary to the Beaver kill, which, about 10 or 15 miles below, 
unites with the Delaware. Subsequently two examples were 
forwarded alive from the same place, and one of them is still 
living in the aquarium 1897. The following notes and measure- 
ments, in inches, relate to the first individual of undetermined 
sex, the organs being undeveloped. 



MEASUREMENTS 

Inches 

Length, including caudal fin 7% 

External caudal lobe (horizontally) 1% 

Middle caudal rays (from end of scales) % 

Length of head 1% 

Greatest depth of body iy 8 

Least depth of caudal peduncle y 2 

Length of snout % 

Length of maxilla U 

Length of mandible 1 A 

Diameter of eye A 

Distance from snout to dorsal 5 re 

Length of dorsal base % 

Length of longest dorsal ray % 

From end of dorsal to caudal origin % 

Distance from snout to pectoral 1% 

Length of pectoral. £§ 

Distance from snout to ventral 3% 

Length of ventral % 

Distance from snout to anal 5^4 

Length of anal base % 

Length of longest anal ray H 

From end of anal base to origin of lower caudal lobe. % 



294 NEW YORK STATE MUSEfUM 

B. 12; D. 12; A. 11; V. 9. Scales, 24-110. The maxilla reaches 
to below the middle of the pupil. The mandible projects ~h of 
an inch when the mouth is closed. The diameter of the eye is~ 
contained five and two thirds times in length of head. The 
stomach was empty, but insect remains were voided from the 
vent. 

Colors. About 20 oblique, interrupted, dark bands on the 
body; a narrow oblique dark band under the eye and four rather 
large dark blotches on the cheek and opercle; pectorals, ven~ 
trals and anal orange; a tinge of orange on the dorsal and 
caudal; general color olivaceous gray, with golden reflections;; 
lower parts creamy white; iris lemon mingled with pale brown;, 
peritoneum silvery. 

All the pickerels are liable to fungus attacks without appar- 
ent cause, but, as a rule, they can be cured by the salt water 
treatment. Their food consists of small live killifish, which 
they approach slowly and deliberately till within 5 or 6 inches,, 
when they rush, seize, and stop as abruptly as if stopped by 
an obstruction. 

Eugene Smith says this pickerel is often found in brackish 
water in the vicinity of New York, and is then more brown in 
color. L. reticulatus is found also on Long Island close 
to salt water, as at Water Mill. 

148 Lucius vermiculatus (Le Sueur) 
Little Pickerel 

Esox vermiculatus Le Sueur in Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. 

XVIII, 333, 1846, Wabash River, Indiana. 
Esox crassus Agassiz, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, 308, 1854, Tennessee River, 

Huntsville, Alabama. 
Esox umorosus Kirtland, Proc. Cleveland Ac. Sci. 79, 1854, Rockport, near 

Cleveland, Ohio; Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila. 409, 1866. 
Esox cypho Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 78, 1865, Waterford, Michigan; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 230, 1866. 
Esox porosus Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila. 408, 1866, substitute for 

cypho. 
Esox salmoneus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 352, 1888. 
Esox vermiculatus Bean, Fishes Penna. 90, pi. 28, fig. 54, 1893. 
Lucius vermiculatus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 627,. 

1896. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 295 

The little pickerel has a short, stout body and a long head. 
The greatest depth is nearly one fifth of the length without cau- 
dal and two thirds of length of head; length of head two 
sevenths of total without caudal; eye two fifths of length of 
snout, one sixth of length of head. The maxilla reaches to 
below middle of eye. Cheeks and opercles fully scaled; dorsal 
origin twice as far from eye as from end of scales, its base two 
fifths of head, its longest ray nearly one half of head; anal 
under dorsal and with slightly longer rays ; ventral nearly mid- 
way between tip of snout and end of scales, its length equal to 
snout and to pectoral. B. 11-13; D. 12; A. 11 or 12. Scales 
in lateral line 105. 

Body green or grayish, usually with many irregular streaks 
or reticulations, which are sometimes entirely lacking; sides of 
the head generally variegated; a dark bar extends downward 
irom the eye, and another forward. Fins plain, but the caudal 
is sometimes mottled at its base. 

This pickerel inhabits the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi 
rivers and streams flowing into the Great lakes from the south- 
ward. In ponds formed in the spring by the overflow of river 
banks it is one of the characteristic fishes and is often de- 
stroyed in great numbers by the drying up of such bodies of 
water. In Pennsylvania the little pickerel, or trout pickerel, is 
common in the Ohio and its tributaries. Prof. Cope mentions 
it also as an inhabitant of the Susquehanna river, in which it 
is probably not a native. 

The U. S. Fish Commission obtained a moderate number of 
specimens in the Lake Ontario region at the following New York 
localities. 

Black creek, tributary of Oswego river, 

Scriba Corner July 15 

Lakeview hotel, 7 m. west of Oswego July 17 

Wart creek July 24 

Great Sodus bay Aug. 16 

Outlet Long pond, 4 m. west of Charlotte Aug. 7 

Marsh creek, near Point Breeze Aug. 21 



296 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

This fish grows to the length of 1 foot and is, therefore, too* 
small to have much importance for food. 

149 Lucius reticulatus (Le Sueur) 
Chain Pickerel j Green Pike 

Esox reticulatus Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 414, 1818, Con- 
necticut River, Adams, Mass.; Philadelphia, Pa.; De Kay, N. Y. 
Fauna, Fishes, 223, pi. 34, fig. 107, 1842; Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. 
Hist. IV, 233, pi. X, fig. 2, 1844; Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 
220, 1866; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus, 353, 1883,.. 
Bean, Fishes Penna. 90, pi. 29, fig. 55, 1893. ■ 

Esox tridecemlineatus Mitchill, Mirror, 361, 1825, Oneida Lake, N. Y. 

Esox phaleratus (Say) Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 416, 1818,. 
St Augustine, Fla. 

Esox afllnis Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. 198, 1860, Charleston, S. O. 

Lucius reticulatus Jordan & Bvermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 627, 
1896; Evermann & Kendall, Kept. U. S. Comrnr. Fish & Fisheries- 
for 1894, 597, 1896; Mearns, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 317, 
1898; Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. XXI, 344, 1898. 

The chain pickerel has a long and slender body, its depth near 
the middle equaling about two thirds of the length of the head 
and contained five to six times in the total without caudal. The 
caudal peduncle is slender, its depth little more than one third 
of greatest depth of body. The snout is long and pointed, as 
long as the postorbital part of the head and about three times 
the length of the eye, which is one seventh to one eighth of 
length of head. The dorsal base equals two fifths of length of 
head, its longest ray equal to snout. The anal begins under the 
third or fourth ray of the dorsal, its longest ray nearly one half 
as long as the head. Caudal deeply forked. Ventral half way 
from tip of snout to end of scales, its length equal to snout and: 
slightly greater than length of pectoral. B. 15; D. 15; A. 14. 
Scales in lateral line about 125. The cheeks and opercles are 
completely scaled. 

The color is usually greenish, sometimes brown or almost 
black. On the sides are many narrow, dark lines connected by 
cross streaks, forming a network which suggested the name 
reticulatus. Occasionally the body is uniform greenish, as 
in a specimen taken in the Potomac river a few years ago. In 
the young the reticulations are very obscure, and a pale stripe 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 297 

is found along the middle line on the second half of the body. 
In adults the sides are often golden or olive yellow, and have 
dark reticulations. A distinct dark band under the eye. 

The chain pickerel is known under other names; it is the jack 
of the south, the federation pike of Oneida lake, N. Y. the green 
pike of the Great lakes and the eastern pickerel of many writers. 
It does not occur west of the Alleghanies, but is found from 
Maine to Florida and Alabama east of this range of mountains. 
It lives in ponds, lakes and streams and occurs within the same 
territory as L. americanus, but farther away from the 
coast. (After Eugene Smith. 1 ) 

At Water Mill this pickerel occurs in or near brackish water 
at the east end of Mecox bay, and it is in very plump condition, on 
account of the abundance of small fishes on which it feeds, for 
example, the silversides, young sunfish, and small killifishes of 
several kinds. 

Dr Meek notes that the species seems to be subject to indi- 
vidual variation. In many respects the specimens from Cayuga 
lake appear to be intermediate between reticulatus and 
vermiculatus. It is not very common. 

The pickerel is common in ponds and streams of the Hudson 
Highlands, according to Dr Mearns, and is taken in winter as 
well as in summer. A specimen weighing 3-J pounds was caught 
in Poplopen's pond in 1882. It is abundant also in Cauter skill 
lake, of the Catskill mountains. The U. S. Fish Commission 
obtained it in Black river, Huntingtonville N. Y. July 5. 
Examples were sent from Canandaigua lake, and young were 
obtained in Bronx river. 

This pickerel is the largest of its group, reaching a length of 
2 feet and a weight, occasionally, of 8 pounds, though this is 
much above the average. 

Like the pike, this is one of the tyrants among fishes, a fierce 
and hungry marauder; and yet it has been introduced by fisher- 
men into many waters in which it is not native and has greatly 
multiplied. In the Potomac, the Connecticut, the Delaware and 

^inn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 29. 



298 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

other large rivers the pickerel abounds; it is to be found in 
large numbers lying in wait among the river grasses or in ponds 
under the shelter of leafy water plants for the minnows which 
it consumes in enormous numbers, or some unlucky insect, frog 
or snake which attracts its voracious appetite. 

Spawning takes place in winter and early in the spring, and 
the young soon become solitary and wolfish like their elders. 

The fish obtained from Oanandaigua lake spawned in their 
tank in June 1897, and the young were naturally hatched, but 
they died when about £ inch long for want of acceptable food. 

As a food fish not much can be said in praise of the chain 
pickerel, though it is eaten and doubtless liked by a good many 
people. The flesh is often coarse and watery and is always full 
of small bones. This fish, however, furnishes considerable 
sport to the angler, since it is a very free biter and fights with 
great boldness and stubbornness when hooked. It is caught by 
trolling with a spoon or still fishing with live shiners, pickerel 
frogs and many other baits. A minnow gang is often very 
effective in pickerel fishing. The hooks must be tied on gimp 
as a protection for the line from the sharp teeth of the fish. 

This species is always hard to keep in good condition in 
captivity, because of its liability to fungus attacks. The salt 
water treatment, however, keeps the fungus in check. 

Subgenus lucius 

The longest known and most widely distributed species of 
Lucius is the common pike, the typical species of the genus. 
In the subdivision into groups this would be the sole representa- 
tive of the Lucius group, which has the cheeks fully scaled 
and the lower half of opercles naked. The sides are pale 
spotted on a darker ground, and the size is very much larger 
than that of the pickerels. Fossil remains of the pike have 
been found in quaternary deposits in Europe. 

150 Lucius lucius (Linnaeus) 
Common Pike; Piclcerel 

E80X lucius Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 314, 1758, Europe; Richardson, 
Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 124, 1836; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 
226, 1866; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 353, 1883; 
Bean, Fishes Penna. 91, pi. 29, fig. 56, 1893. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 299 

Msox estor Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 413, 1818, Lake Erie; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 222, 1842; Stoker, Syn. Fish. N. A. 

184, 1846. 
JSsox horeus Agassiz, Lake Superior, 317, 1850, Lake Superior. 
Jjucius lucius Jordan & Dvebmann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 628, 1896, 

pi. C, fig. 269, 1900; Evermann & Kendall, Rept. U. S. Commr. Fish 

& Fisheries for 1894, 597, 1896. 

The pike has a stout, elongate body and a long head, with 
"broad and produced snout. The greatest depth is about one 
fifth of the length without caudal. The caudal peduncle is 
nearly equal to one half depth of body. The eye is nearly 
median and about one sixth of length of head, which is -^ of 
lotal without caudal. The mouth is very large and strongly 
toothed. The tongue, roof of mouth, pharynx and gill arches 
bristle with teeth in cardlike bands, giving the fish extraor- 
dinary power in seizing and holding its prey. The dorsal and 
anal fins are near the caudal. The dorsal base is a little longer 
than its longest ray and equals depth of body at its origin. 
Ventral fin midway between tip of snout and end of tail fin. B. 
14 to 16; D. 17 to 20; A. 16 or 17. Scales in lateral line 120 to 
125. 

The ground color of the body is grayish varying to bluish or 
greenish gray. The sides are thickly covered with pale blotches, 
none of them as large as the eye, arranged nearly in rows. The 
'dorsal, anal and caudal fins have many rounded, dark spots. 
Adults without dark bar below eye. Naked part of opercle 
bounded by a whitish streak. In the young the sides are 
covered with oblique yellowish bars, which afterward break up 
into the pale spots of the adult. 

Pike is the best known name for this species, though the 
misnomer " pickerel " is rather extensively used. The origin 
of pike is involved in uncertainty; some trace it to the resem- 
blance in shape of the snout to the pike or spear, while others 
believe it to refer to the darting motion of the fish when speed- 
ing through the water. The name pickerel is used in Vermont 
and around Lake George, N. Y. " Frank Forrester " (Herbert) 
styles it the great northern pickerel. The name jack is applied 
in Great Britain to young pike. Brocket is the French name, 
Jiecht the German and luccio the Italian designation of the 



300 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

species. In Prof. Cope's paper in earlier reports of the Penn- 
sylvania Fish Commission the names lake pike and grass pike- 
are nsed for the fish. 

Distribution. In the north temperate and arctic regions of 
North America, Europe and Asia the pike is equally common. 
In North America it extends from Pennsylvania to high northern 
latitudes. In Alaska, Townsend and others found it above the 
arctic circle, and Dall and Nelson took it in abundance in the- 
Yukon. From Greenland and the islands of the Arctic ocean 
the pike appears to be absent. The identity of our American 
pike with the common one of Europe was recognized by Cuvier 
and Richardson more than half a century ago; the former com- 
pared specimens from Lake Huron with European examples, and 
Richardson with the English pike, and both were unable to find 
specific differences between the two. 

The pike is said to be common in Lake Champlain and in all 
its larger tributaries. In the Lake Ontario region the U. S- 
Fish Commission collectors secured it at the following places. 
Mud creek, Cape Vincent N. Y. June 25, 1894, Chaumont river 
July 10, outlet Long pond, 4 miles west of Charlotte N. Y. 
Aug. 17. 

Dr Meek found the species in Cayuga lake, where he says he 
was unable to find any other fish of the genus except the pickerel- 
James Annin jr obtained the pike in Silver lake, Wyoming co. 
N. Y. July 1, 1896. He reports that it does not occur in Canan- 
daigua lake. 

On the continent of Europe the largest recorded specimen was 
taken at Bregenz in 1862; this was said to weigh 145 pounds. 
In Scotland a pike measuring more than 7 feet and weighing 72 
pounds has been reported. We do not find monsters like these 
in America. " Frank Forrester " mentions individuals of 16 to 
17 pounds. Lake George, N. Y., is famous for its large pike. Dr 
Frank Presbrey of Washington D. C. caught one there in 1889 
weighing a little more than 16 pounds, and more than 30 
examples, averaging in excess of 10 pounds each, were taken that 
season by another person from Washington in the same waters.. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 301 

Some of the largest pike were upward of 4 feet long. The 
average length is about 2 feet. 

The fishing season generally begins June 1 and ends Decem- 
ber 1; but many of the states have no close season. In Penn- 
sylvania the close time lasts from December 1 to June 1. 

The pike is a voracious fish and destroys everything within 
its reach in the form of animal life; other fish, water birds and 
mammals are consumed in enormous numbers. From its con- 
cealment, like a beast of prey it darts out suddenly on its victims 
and seldom misses its mark. The pike is even more destructive 
than the pickerel, and two of the latter, measuring 5 inches in 
length, have been reported to eat more than 100 minnows in a 
day. Spawning takes place in winter and early spring on shal- 
lows and frequently on overflowed meadows. The eggs are about 
-§ inch in diameter, and a female weighing 32 pounds was esti- 
mated by Buckland to contain 595,000. The young pike has a 
very large yolk sac. The period of hatching varies, with the 
temperature of the water, from 14 to 30 days. The female is said 
to be larger than the male; the fish breeds at the age of three 
years. At the age of one year the fish may reach a length of 12 
inches, and, if well supplied with food, it will increase in weight 
from 2 to 3 pounds yearly. 

The pike is a fairly good food fish and forms an important 

element of the Lake Erie fisheries. As a game fish the species 

is widely known; it can be readily caught by trolling or spinning 

or on lines set under the ice. Live minnows and frogs are 

favorite baits; and Dr Henshall says it will rise to a large, 

gaudy fly. In Lake George the white chub is one of the best 

known baits. 

Subgenus mascaloigus 

The largest member of the pike family is the single repre- 
sentative of the section Mascalongus, in which the lower 
half of the cheeks, as well as of the opercles, is scaleless. The 
scales are smaller than in the other groups. 

The sides and vertical fins are profusely covered with roundish 
black spots on a pale ground. The branchiostegals number IT 



: 302 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

to 19. A color variety is occasionally met with having the body 
uniformly dark gray, unspotted. 

151 Lucius masquinongy (Mitchill) 
Mascalonge; Spotted Mascalonge 

Esox masquinongy Mitchill, Mirror, 297, 1824, Lake Erie. 

Esox masquinongy (Mitchill) Kirtland, Fishes of Ohio, 194, 1838, Lake 

Erie. 
Esox nobilior Thompson, Proc. Bost Soc. Nat. Hist. Ill, 163, 1850, Lake 

Champlain; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S; Nat. Mus. 353, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 93, pi. 29, fig. 57, 1893. ' 

Lucius masquinongy Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 629, 

1896, pi. C, fig. 270, 1900; Evermann & Kendall, Kept. U. S. Commr. 

Fish & Fisheries for 18U4. 598, 1896. 

The mascalonge has a stout and moderately elongate body, its* 
greatest depth, midway between the pectoral and ventral fins, 
one fifth to one sixth of the total length to the end of the scales. 
The caudal peduncle is short and slender, its depth one third of 
greatest depth. The length of the head is two sevenths of the 
(total without the caudal, and the small eye equals less than one 
fourth the length of snout. The eye is nearly in the middle of 
the length of the head. The mouth is very large; the maxilla 
extends to below the hind margin of the eye. The teeth are as 
in the pike, but even more formidable. Dorsal and anal far 
back, the origin of the former a little in advance of the anal 
origin; the length of dorsal base about two fifths of head, longest 
dorsal ray one third of head, caudal deeply forked; ventral mid- 
way between end of head and end of anal, its length equal to 
one half the depth of body; pectoral nearly equal to postorbital 
part of head. B. 17-19; D. 17; A. 16; V. 12. Scales in lateral 
line 150. 

The color is usually dark gray, sometimes immaculate as in 
the color variety immaculatus, but generally with numer- 
ous distinct, roundish, black spots about as large as buckshot. 
The dark spots are present only on the basal parts of the dorsal, 
anal and caudal fins. The lower parts are pale, the belly white. 

The name of this giant pike is apparently derived from the 
.language of the Ojibwa or the Cree Indians; it is variously spelled 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 30& 

and its meaning is uncertain, though the roots, according to 
H. W. Henshaw, are probably mask (ugly) and kinonge (fish). In 
the books it appears as muscalonge, muskellunge, muskallunge r 
mascalonge and maskinonge, all variations of the same term. 
Some writers style it the great pike, and by others it is confused 
with the common pike, E. lucius. Prof. Cope mentions also 
the name blue pike. 

The mascalonge is recorded by Prof Cope from Conneaut lake,. 
Crawford co. Pa., the specimen measuring 17 inches in circum- 
ference behind the eyes. It is found occasionally in the Ohio 
valley. The species, however, is most abundant in the Great 
lakes region. In Lake Erie favorite localities are Dunkirk and 
Barcelona N. Y., Erie Pa. and Mills' Grove O. The northern 
limit of the fish is not definitely fixed. 

It is asserted by some persons that the fish inhabits Cayuga 
lake, but others deny this. Dr Meek was unable to find it there 
after diligent search. It was known in Lake Champlain more 
than a half century ago and was described by Rev. Zadock 
Thompson. Mitchill and Kirtland had it from Lake Erie. De- 
Kay confounded the mascalonge with the pike, and apparently 
had no example of the former. In the St Lawrence river the- 
species is well known. 

It is recorded that in 1865 Mr Schultz caught a mascalonge at 
Milwaukee weighing 100 pounds. In 1864 Fred Alvord declared 
that he had an 85 pound specimen in Maumee bay. The average 
length of the species is about 3 feet, and there is reason to 
believe that a length of 8 feet is sometimes reached. Individuals- 
weighing 50 pounds are moderately common. With the excep- 
tion of the lake trout and some of the salmon, this is undoubtedly 
the largest game fish in the United States. 

The fish seem not to be gregarious, but occur usually in pairs. 
Their food consists mainly of smaller fishes, and their voracity 
is notorious. In the spawning season in small rivers falling into 
Lake Simcoe, Richardson states that they feed on small fishes 
and on gelatinous green balls which grow on the sides of banks 
under the water. 



304 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

This is an excellent food fish, but not common enough to have 
much commercial importance. As a game fish it has few 
superiors. The spoon bait is very effective in the capture of 
mascalonge, and live fishes are extensively used. A corres- 
pondent of Land and Water describes a singular and successful 
lure made from a young brown calf's tail, through the center of 
which the shank of the hook was passed and fastened to a swivel. 

152 Lucius masquinongy immaculatus (Garrard) 
Unspotted Mascalonge; Barred Mascalonge 

Esox immaculatus Garrard MS; noticed in several fishing journals, Eagle 
Lake, Northern Wisconsin, fide Jordan & Eveemann. 

Esox masquinongy immaculatus Jordan, Man. Vert. ed. 5, 89, 1888. 

Lucius masquinongy immaculatus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus, 630, 1896. 

Lucius lucius immaculatus Bean, by error, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 
353, 1897. 

Body moderately stout and elongate, its greatest depth one 
sixth of the total length without caudal; least depth of caudal 
peduncle contained two and two sevenths times in greatest depth 
of body, and nearly four times in length of head; head long, its 
length nearly three and three fourths times in total without 
caudal; the maxilla extending to below the front edge of the 
pupil, its length about one third of length of head; snout about 
two fifths as long as the head; eye about one eleventh as long as 
the head; the gill rakers mere clumps of spiny tubercles. The 
dorsal fin is distant from tip of snout a space equal to two and 
three fourths times length of head; the longest dorsal ray is three 
sevenths as long as the head, and only a little longer than the 
dorsal base. The ventral is nearly as long as the snout. The 
anal base is one third as long as the head; the longest anal ray 
is as long as the sno/ut, and equal to the pectoral. B. 18-19; D. 
16-18 (developed rays); A. 15-16 (developed rays). Scales about 
153; gill rakers 13+28. Color olive green with golden tints; about 
20 entire, blotchlike, irregular dark cross bands and several 
parts of bands and blotches intervening; lower third of pectoral 
pink; dorsal, caudal and anal with dark blotches forming pseudo- 
bands; iris lemon yellow on a silvery white ground; no black 
spots. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 305 

Examples of unspotted mascalonge were received at the New 
Tork aquarium from Chautauqua lake, N. Y. which belongs to 
the Ohio river drainage system. It appears that the typical 
spotted form also inhabits the Ohio basin, but occurs rarely. Mr 
Annin sent one individual Dec. 4, 1895, and two on May 4, 1896; 
irom these three were obtained the following notes and measure- 
ments in inches. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Dec. 4, 1895 May 4. 1896 May 4, 1896 

$ S 

Length, including, caudal fin 23% 27 % 25% 

Length to end of scales 23% 23 

Length of caudal lobe (horizontally) . 3 % 

Length of middle caudal rays lty 

Depth of body 3% 4 3% 

Least depth of caudal peduncle.... 1% 1% 1% 

Length of head 5% 6% 6% 

Length of snout 2% 2% 2y 2 

Length of maxilla 2y 2 2% 2% 

Length of mandible 3% 4% 3% 

Diameter of eye % A ts 

j Distance from snout to dorsal 18% 16% 

Length of dorsal base 2% 2% 

Length of longest dorsal ray 2% 2% 

Distance from snout to ventral 13% 12% 

Length of ventral 2% 2% 

Length of anal base 2% 2 A 

Length of longest anal ray 2% 2r 

Length of pectoral 2% 2x% 

Branchiostegals 19 18 19 

Dorsal rays (developed) 18 16 17 

Anal rays (developed) . 16 15 15 

Rows of scales ca. 153 

Gill rakers 13 + 28 

In all the specimens the maxilla extends to below the front 
«dge of the pupil. The gill rakers are mere clumps of spiny 
tubercles. In the two males the diameter of the eye is con- 
tained from four and one third to five times in the length of the 
snout, and from 10 to 11 times in the length of the head. 

In the individual of Dec. 4, 1895, the lateral line tubes are 
distributed over various parts of the sides without much regu- 
larity except in the median line. There are no black spots. 
About 20 entire, blotchlike, irregular cross bands and several 
2>arts of bands and blotches intervening. The lower third of 



306 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the pectoral is pink. The dorsal, caudal and anal with dark 
blotches making pseudo bands. Iris lemon yellow overlying sil- 
very white. The general color is olive green with golden tints. 

The two males of May 4, 1896, furnished the following color 
notes. 

Olive green tinged with golden bronze; sides with about 23 
irregular dusky blotches resembling interrupted bands; dorsal,, 
caudal and anal with numerous large dusky blotches, those on 
dorsal and anal almost forming bands; iris lemon yellow and. 
silvery in the larger, almost vermilion and orange in smaller; a 
dark blotch at upper edge of opercle. 

The Chautauqua lake mascalonge, according to James Annini 
jr who sent the specimens, is a very fine food and game fish, 
and attains to the weight of 50 pounds. In the spring of 1895 
it was not unusual to capture individuals weighing from 40 to< 
50 pounds, and 20 to 30 pounds was a very common weight. In 
winter the fish frequent nearly the same localities as in sum- 
mer, being found in the vicinity of water plants. When the lake 
becomes very clear in February, they go into deep water, but 
they live in deep water more or less all the year. 

For thejfish culture operations the nets are set as soon after 
the first of April as the ice leaves the lake. The fish begin to* 
spawn a few days after and continue till the latter part of April. 
They go into shallower water for spawning; most of them 
spawn in from 10 to 15 feet of water. They do not resort to- 
the gravel, like many other fish, but to mud, generally going 
into bays. The eggs are placed in boxes, all of which are pro- 
vided with screens at top and bottom. The bottom has an extra 
screen, to prevent minnows from injuring the eggs. The boxes- 
are sunk from 1 foot to 2 feet under the surface of the water.. 
Every day or two they are drawn up, the covers removed, and all- 
bad eggs and sediment cleaned out. 

During the first experiments in Chautauqua lake, N.Y. Monroe- 
Green and Jonathan Mason obtained the eggs in April and May 
1890, and these were artificially hatched. A large female- 
yielded 60,000 eggs. With the water at the temperature of 40° 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 307 

to 46° very few of the eggs were developed, but when it neared 
60°, in May, better results were secured. May 27, 75,000 young 
fish were planted in the lake. The eggs were hatched in a box 
suspended about 4 feet from the bottom in 18 feet of water. 

Family poeciliidae 

Killifishes 

Genus fundulus Laee/peele 

Body rather elongate, little elevated, compressed behind; 
mouth moderate, the lower jaw projecting, jaws each with two 
or more series of pointed teeth, usually forming a narrow band, 
bones of the mandible firmly united; scales moderate; gill open- 
ing not restricted above, the opercle with its margin not adnate 
to shoulder girdle; preopercle, preorbital, and mandible with 
mucous pores; dorsal and anal fins similar, small, or rather 
large, the dorsal inserted either in front of, above, or behind, 
the front of anal; ventrals well developed; air bladder present; 
sexes differing in color, size, and development of the fins, the 
anal fin in the male normal; intestinal canal short; first superior 
pharyngeal without teeth, second with teeth, third and fourth 
coossified, with teeth. Species very numerous, mostly Ameri- 
can, inhabiting fresh waters and arms of the sea. They are 
the largest in size of the cyprinodonts, and some of them are 
very brightly colored. They are oviparous and feed chiefly on 
animals. Some of them are bottom fishes, burying themselves 
in the mud of estuaries; others swim freely in river channels 
and bays; still others are "top minnows," surface swimmers, 
feeding on floating insects in swamps and streams. 

153 Fundulus majalis (Walbaum) 
Bass Killy 

Coxitis majalis Walbaum, Artedi, Gen. Pise. Ill, 12, 1792, Long Island. 
Esox flavulus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 439, pi. IV, fig. 

8, 1815, New York. 
Esox zonatus Mitchill, op. cit. 440, 1815, New York. 

Fundulus fasciatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 216, pi. 31, fig. 98, 1842. 
Hydrargyra majalis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVIII, 207, 

1846. 



308 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Fundiilus majalis Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 322, 1806; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 331, 1883; Bean, 19th Hep. Coniin. 
Fish. N. Y. 274, pi. XXII, figs. 28 & 29, 1890; Fishes Penna. 84, pi. 2f7, 
fig. 51, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 639, 1896, 
pi. CI, figs. 271, 271a, 271&, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State 
Mus. 98, 1900. 

The body is stout, oblong, not very deep or greatly com- 
pressed. The head is contained nearly two and one half times 
in the total length without caudal, and the depth four times. 
The snout is moderately long, one and one half times as long 
as the eye; the eye one fifth as long as head. The scales are 
moderately large, those on the head about equal to the average 
of those on the body; scales on the cheeks in about three longi- 
tudinal rows; about 12 rows between dorsal origin and nape. 
The pectoral in both sexes equals the distance from the middle 
of the eye to the end of the head. The ventral and anal are 
longer in the male than in the female. In the male the ventral 
is one half as long as the head, in the female only about two 
fifths of the head. The longest anal ray of the male equals 
four fifths of the length of the head, while in the female it is 
scarcely more than one half as long as the head. The dorsal 
of the male is differently shaped from that of the female, its 
last rays being nearly as long as the longest, while in the female 
the last ray is not much more than one half the length of 
longest ray. D. 13-14; A. 11. Scales 35-15. 

The sexes may be at once distinguished by their difference 
in color, the female having several narrow lateral stripes, while 
the male has distinct cross bands varying from 12 to 20 in num- 
ber. In the male the sides and upper parts are dark olivaceous; 
the sides are silvery, lower parts a beautiful yellowish green; 
the sides are also marked by a varying number of dark bands, 
the width of which varies also. A large black spot on the 
operculum. The dorsal is olivaceous with a black blotch, some- 
times circular in form, on the last three or four rays. The 
pectorals are yellowish; ventrals yellowish green; anal oliva- 
ceous; caudal orange. In the female the lower parts are white, 
upper parts olivaceous, and along the sides is a median dark 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 309 

band, and below this are two short, interrupted dark bars. Two 
or more short, transverse, dark bars on the caudal peduncle. 

The striped killifish, also known as the banded or striped 
mummichog, bass mummy, bass fry, mayfish, yellow-tail, and 
New York gudgeon, is the largest member of its family known 
on our eastern coast. Its range extends from Cape Ood to 
Florida. Prof. Cope thinks that in Pennsylvania it probably 
ascends the Delaware as far as the boundary of the state, and 
I see no reason to doubt its occurrence even in fresh water. 

The female is usually larger than the male, and examples 
measuring 8 inches in length have been recorded. It swarms 
in shallow bays and salt marshes, and though not used as food, 
it is extremely important for the subsistence of economic species 
and is, also, extensively used for bait. The name bass mummy, 
applied to the species on Long Island, refers to its use in the 
capture of striped bass.. The species breeds in summer, and 
the young are abundant in shallow water among eel grass and 
other aquatic plants. 

A permanent resident in Gravesend bay. In winter it inhabits 
deep, muddy holes at the mouths of creeks. In captivity it is 
the least hardy of all the marine killifishes. 

154 Fimdulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus) 
Killifish j Mu m micli og 

Qobitis heteroclita Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 500, 1766, Charles- 
ton, S. C. 

Poecilia macrolepidota Walbaum, Artedi, Gen. Pise. Ill, 11, 1792, Long 
Island. 

Esox pisciculus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 440, 1815, New 
York. 

Esox pisculentus Mitchill, op. cit. 441, 1815, New York. 

Fundulus viridescens De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 217, pi. 31, fig. 99, 1842, 
New York. 

Fundulus zebra De Kay, op. cit. 218, 1842, New York. 

Fundulus pisculentus Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 294, 1867. 

Fundulus heteroclitus Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 818, 1866; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 336, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. 
Comm. Fish. N. Y. 274, pi. XXIII, fig. 30, 1890; Fishes Penna. 86, 
pi. 28, fig. 52, 1893; 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 98, 1900. 

Fundulus heteroclitus macrolepidotus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 641, 1896, pi. CII, fig. 273, male, 1900; Mearns, Bull. Am. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 317, 1898, salt creeks along the Hudson. 



310 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The body is short and stout in both sexes; its depth one fourtfr 
of the length including the tail and slightly greater than the 
length of the head. The head is moderately short, with aife 
obtuse snout and the space between the eyes very flat. The 
lower jaw projects slightly. The eye is about two thirds as 
long as the snout and one fifth the length of the head. The 
pectoral reaches to the ninth or tenth row of scales; its length 
is equal to the base of the dorsal. The dorsal is considerably 
nearer to the end of the tail than to the tip of the snout; its 
longest ray in the female one half the length of head. The anal 
is entirely under the dorsal ; its longest ray equals the longest 
of the dorsal, its base about one third the length of head. The 
ventral origin is under about the twelfth scale of the median 
line, its length two thirds of that of the pectoral, considerably 
less than half the head; when extended it reaches nearly to 
vent. The least depth of the caudal peduncle is one seventh of 
the length including caudal. All the fins have rounded out- 
lines, and the caudal is specially convex. Scales 14-35. D. 11; 
A. 11. 

The females are nearly uniform olivaceous, lighter below;, 
caudal with a median narrow band of a paler color; most of the 
scales having a narrow, dusky submarginal streak; the scales 
of the head very irregularly arranged and unequal in size. The 
males are dark greenish, with many narrow, irregular, silvery 
bars on the sides and with the belly yellowish or orange. The 
sides are also more or less spotted with white or yellow. The 
dorsal, anal and caudal are dark with many small pale spots. 
On the last rays of the dorsal there is frequently a dark blotch, 
which sometimes is surrounded by paler, giving it an ocellated 
appearance. In the young this blotch is often subdivided into 
two parts. Narrow dark bands are sometimes present in the 
young male. 

The killifish has been found in the Delaware by Prof. Cope. 
It is frequently called mummichog or salt-water minnow, and 
the name mudfish has also been applied to it. In the vicinity of 
Boston it is known to boys under the name of cobbler, and on 
.Long Island it is called mummy or chog-mummy. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 311 

This is the killiflsh of Schopff, the yellow-bellied and the 
white-bellied killiflsh of Mitchill, and the big killiflsh and barred 
Mlifish of DeKay. The Indian name nmmmichog is applied to 
this as well as to other species, and some persons call it the salt- 
water minnow. In Great South bay it is the mummy or chog- 
mummy. It is extremely abundant in all parts of the bay, and 
serves as food for larger fishes. 

The striking difference in the colors of the two sexes has led 
to their separation under distinct names by Mitchill, DeKay and 
other writers. 

It grows to the length of 5 or 6 inches; it has no importance as 
•a food fish, but is eaten in large numbers by many of the 
valuable economic fishes, particularly the striped bass and the 
weakfish. Dr Storer says it is an excellent bait for smelts. 
Piscivorous birds consume it in large quantities, and domestic 
ducks have been known to swallow it with apparent great relish. 
Eggs have been found in this species as late as August. It 
spawns in the spring and early summer, and the young are found 
in great schools in summer in the eelgrass and on sandy beaches 
in company with other species of killifish, the common silver- 
side and various other fishes. 

The killifish is a permanent resident in Gravesend bay, winter- 
ing in deep, muddy holes near the mouths of creeks. According 
to Eugene Smith, it stands captivity well and is often found 
landlocked in ice or quarry ponds. The flesh has a sweet taste. 
The range of the species is from Maine to South Carolina, 
usually in shallow salt or brackish water, but sometimes 
ascending streams beyond tidewater. 

155 Fundulus diaphanus (Le Sueur) 
Fresh-water Killy 

Mydrargira diaphana Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 130, 1817, 

Saratoga Lake; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 219, 1842. 
Hydrargira multifasciata Le Sueur, op. cit. 131, 1817, Saratoga Lake; 

De Kay, op. cit. 220. 
.Hydrargyra swmnpina Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVIII, 

203, 1845, New Jersey. 
■Fundulus multifasciatus Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 324, 1866. 
Fundulus sicampina Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 332, 

1883. 



612 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Fundulus diaphauKS Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 334, 1883; Hugh M. Smith,. 
Bull. U. S. F. C. X, 65, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 645, 1896, pi. CHI, figs. 275, 275a, 1900; Bean, Fishes Penna^ 
85, 1893; 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 98, 1900; Mearns, Bull. 
Am. Mus, Nat. Hist. X, 318, 1898. 

The body is moderately slender and elongate, its greatest 
depth equaling about two ninths of the total length without 
tail, or somewhat less than the length of the head. The head 
is flat above, the width between the eyes equal to nearly half 
the length of head. The mouth is very protractile, small, its 
width somewhat greater than the length of the lower jaw. The 
upper jaw is as long as the eye, a little more than one fourth 
the length of head, which equals about one fourth of total 
length without caudal. The length of the dorsal base equals 
the depth of the body and much exceeds length of anal base. 
Length of longest dorsal ray less than one half of head; longest 
anal ray two thirds of length of head. The dorsal is midway 
between the tip of the snout and the root of the caudal. The 
anal is wholly under the dorsal. Length of pectoral six and one 
half times in total. Caudal large, convex behind. D. 14; A. 12. 
Scales 44-46-13. 

The females are olivaceous with silvery; sides traversed by 15 
to 25 narrow, dark cross bands; fins pale. The males, at least 
in the breeding season, are pale olive with about 20 pearly white 
cross bands. 

The barred killifish, also known as the spring mummichog 
and toothed minnow, inhabits the Great lakes and their tribu- 
taries, east to Massachusetts, south to Virginia and Indiana, 
west to Colorado, according to Cope south to Texas. The 
species was first made known from Saratoga lake. It is very 
abundant in the Lake Ontario region, having been taken by 
U. S. Fish Commission collectors at the following New York 
localities. 

Mud creek, Cape Vincent June 25 

Grenadier island, Lake Ontario June 28 

Horse island, Sacketts Harbor . June 30 

Mill Creek, Sacketts Harbor July 2 



FISHES OF NEW YORK .3lo 

Stony Island July 2 and 3 

Little Stony brook, Henderson bay July 4 

Guffon creek, Chaumont July 7 

Chaumont river July LO 

Great Sodus bay Aug. 6 

Creek near Pultneyville Aug. 7 

Long pond, Charlotte Aug. 17 
St Lawrence river, 3 miles below Ogdens- 

burg July 17 

According to Dr Meek, it is common on the flats and in the 
southern end of Cayuga lake, also in streams on the uplands, at 
Cayuga and Montezuma. Dr Mearns took it in Echo lake and 
Long pond of the Hudson Highlands. The state museum 
secured numerous individuals from Shinnecock bay July 21, 
Scallop pond, Peconic bay July 28, and Mecox bay Aug. 1, 1898. 

The fish is very common in a lake at 110th street and 5th 
avenue, Central park, New York city. 

In Eugene Smith's experience the species throve better in 
the aquarium than any other killifish except Fundulus 
heteroclitus, and became very tame in captivity, though 
always attacking the fins of other fishes. In the New York 
aquarium the fish proved to be very delicate, usually dying from 
fungus attacks before the salt water treatment removed the 
parasite. 

In Ohio, and west, is found a variety with very distinct and 
somewhat irregular bands and the back always spotted, which 
has been called variety m e n o n a by Jordan and Copeland. 
Eastern specimens have the back unspotted and the cross bands 
faint and regular, but extremely variable in number. The dif- 
ference in coloration of the sexes is very striking, specially in 
the breeding season, when the adult males have silvery cross 
bands. 

The barred killifish grows to the length of 4 inches. It runs 
down into brackish waters along the east coast and ascends far 
up the streams, delighting in cold water. It is eaten in large 
numbers by the striped bass and the weakfish. In the fresh 
waters the black bass and trout also feed on it. 



314 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Genus lucania Girard 

The bod}- oblong, compressed; lower jaw prominent, the cleft 
of the mouth short and very oblique ; mouth moderate, the snout 
not produced, each jaw with a single series of conical teeth; 
scales very large; gill openings not restricted; dorsal and anal 
rays in moderate number, the dorsal above or slightly in 
advance of the anal; anal fin not modified in the males. . Very 
small, oviparous fishes of the brackish waters, swamps and 
shallow bays of the United States. 

156 Lucania parva (Baird & Girard) 
RaAmoater Fish 

Cyprinodon parvus Baird & Girard, Ninth Smithsonian Rept. 345, 1855, 

Greenport, Long Island; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 307, 

1866. 
Lucania parva Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 893, 1883; Bean, 

Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 148, pi. II, fig. 18, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. 

Fish. N. Y. 275, 1890; Hugh M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. X, 68, 1890; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 665, 1896, pi. CIX, fig. 

202, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 99, 1900. 

Body rather short and stout in the adult, its greatest depth 
two sevenths of the length to base of caudal; caudal peduncle 
moderately long and deep, its least depth nearly one half the 
length of head; the mouth small, oblique, with heavy projecting 
lower jaw; snout short, nearly equal to eye, about two ninths 
as long as the head; eye rather large, its horizontal diameter 
two sevenths as long as the head; head stout, with obtuse muz- 
zle, its length nearly one third of the total to base of caudal; 
dorsal origin midway between tip of snout and base of middle 
caudal rays, the dorsal base about one fifth of total length to 
caudal base, the longest dorsal ray one half as long as the head, 
the last dorsal ray a little more than one third as long as the 
head. The anal fin begins under the middle of the dorsal, its 
base as long as the snout and eye combined, its longest ray one 
half as long as the head. The ventral is slightly in advance 
of the dorsal, its length three eighths of length of head. The 
pectoral reaches slightly beyond the origin of dorsal, its length 
nearly one fifth of total length to base of caudal. Caudal large, 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 315 

roundish, scarcely truncate behind in the adult. D. ii, 8; A. ii, 6; 
"V. i, 5. Scales 10-27. 

Color in life: males olive or pale brown, with bluish reflec- 
tions, edges of the scales darker, dorsal dusky orange, some- 
limes with a large, black spot at the base in front, ocellated 
with orange, caudal orange yellow, tipped with black, ventrals 
•and anal orange red, tipped with dusky, pectorals translucent; 
females with the fins pale olive, without black spot or edgiugs. 
Length 1J to 2 inches. 

The species is found along the coast in brackish waters from 
Massachusetts to Florida; very common on Long Island. Abun- 
dant in Peconic, Shinnecock, and Great South bays, and in a 
fresh-water stream at Water Mill L. I.; not yet reported from 
Oravesend bay. It seldom exceeds 1-J inches in length and is 
interesting chiefly on account of its translucent body and grace- 
ful movements. It has not proved hardy in captivity. 

The species was first described by Prof. Baird from Green- 
port L. I. _ A • _ 
Genus ctprinodon Lacepede 

Body very short and stout, the back elevated; mouth small, 
the bones of the jaws well formed; snout short; teeth mod- 
erate, incisorlike, tricuspid, in a single series; scales very large; 
dorsal fin moderate, inserted in advance of front of anal, its 
first ray not enlarged; anal smaller; ventral fins small, occasion- 
ally wanting in specimens from desert pools; intestinal canal 
little longer than body; gill membranes considerably united, free 
from the isthmus; gill openings restricted, the opercle above 
adnate to the shoulder girdle. Chubby little fishes, inhabiting 
the brackish waters of middle America, sometimes living in 
warm salt springs, their colors generally brilliant. Oviparous; 
the sexes similar except in color. 

157 Cyprinodon variegatus Lacep&de 

Sheepshead Minnow 

Cyprinodon variegatus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 486, 1803, South Caro- 
lina; Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 305, 1866; Jordan & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 329, 1883; Bean, Bull. IT. S. F. C. VII, 148, 
1888; 19th Kept. Commrs. Fish. N. Y. 275, 1890; 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. 
State Mus. 99, 1900; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mue. 
671, 1896, pi. CXI, fig. 296, 296a, 1900. 



316 ..NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Esox orinus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Sac. N. Y. I, 441, pi. IV, fig. 7, 

1815, New York. 
Lebias ovinus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 215, pi. 27, fig. 84, 1842. 
Lebias ellipsoides Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat, Sci. Phila. II, 6, pi. 2, figs. 1, 2, 

1821; Stoker, Syn. Fish. N. A. 179, 1846. 

Bod}' short and stout, heavy anteriorly, its width more than 
one half its hight, its greatest hight two fifths to nearly one 
half of total length to base of caudal, the males higher than 
the females; caudal peduncle short, its least depth equal to 
postorbital part of head; head conical, its width at gill covers 
equal to its length without the snout, its length one third of 
total without caudal; jaws very short, mouth small, terminal, 
slightly oblique when closed, the lower jaw somewhat promi- 
nent, the upper protractile; the maxilla curved abruptly down- 
ward at the end, about as long as the eye, not reaching to the 
front margin of the orbit; eye circular, longer than snout, not 
quite one fourth as long as the head, placed near the top of the 
skull, about two thirds of width of interorbital space; dorsal 
origin a little nearer to tip of snout than to base of middle 
caudal rays, the dorsal base, in males, as long as the head with- 
out the snout, three and two thirds in total length without 
caudal,. the longest dorsal ray, in males, about equal to length 
of head, and twice as long as the last ray. The ventral reaches 
nearly or quite to anal origin, its length one half length of head. 
The anal base is two fifths as long as the head, its longest ray 
one fifth of total without caudal. The pectoral is narrow and 
as long as the head in males, reaching almost to the beginning 
of the anal; in females it is not quite so long as the head, and 
does not reach beyond the middle of the ventral. Caudal fin 
short and truncate, its length about one fourth of the total 
without caudal, and about equal to the head without the snout. 
D. 11; A. 10; B. 6. Scales 17-28. 

This is known in Great South bay as the porgy mummy. 
Mitchill recorded it as more rare than the other killifishes. 
DeKay has it as the Sheepshead Lebias. 

This little fish seldom exceeds 2 inches in length. The males 
are more brightly colored and higher bodied than the females., 
and have a narrow, dark margin to the caudal fin. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK? 317 

The Sheepshead killifish ranges from Cape Cod to Florida. It 
is not important except as food for other fishes. Very common 
in salt water ditches. 

One of the best of its family for aquarium purposes, as it 
thrives and breeds in captivity; the young, however, may be 
eaten by their parents. 

Order SYNENTOGNATHI 

Family esocidae 

Needlefishes 

Genus tylosirus Cocco 

Body elongate, very slender, not much compressed; both jaws 
prolonged into a beak, the lower jaw somewhat the longer, 
much the longer in young fishes, the very young resembling 
Hemiramphus ; each, jaw armed with a band of small, 
sharp teeth, beside which is a series of longer, wide set, sharp,, 
conical, unequal teeth; no teeth on vomer or palatines; scales 
small, thin; lateral line running along the side of the belly, 
becoming median on the tail; no finlets; dorsal fin more or less 
elevated anteriorly; caudal fin short, unequally lunated or 
forked; pectorals moderate; ventrals small, the latter inserted 
behind the middle of the body; gill rakers obsolete; bones 
usually more or less green; size comparatively large. Species 
numerous. Voraci'ous fishes, chiefly American; one species 
crossing to Europe; some of them entering rivers. This genus 
differs from the old world genus E s o x (Linnaeus) Rafinesque 
(= B e 1 o n e, Cuvier) in the absence of gill rakers and of vom- 
erine teeth. 

158 Tylosurus marinus (Walbaum) 

Billfish; Silver Gar 

Esox marinus Walbaum, Artedi. Gen. Pise. Ill, 88, 1792, based on Schopty 

Sea Snipe, Long Island. 
Esox longirostris Mitchill, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 322, March, 1818. 
Belone trunv&ta Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. II, 126, 1821; De Kay, 

N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 227, pi. 35, fig. 112, 1842; Gunther, Gat. Fish. 

Brit. Mus. VI, 244, 1866; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 136, pi. XXIV, 

fig. 3, 1867. 
Tylosurus longirostris Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 374„ 

1883. 



318 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Tylosurus marinus Jordan & Fordice, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 351, 1886; 
Bean, Bull. U, S. F. C. VII, 146, 18S8; 19th Rept. Comrnrs. Fish. 
N. Y. 273, 1890; Fishes Penna. 97, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 
47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 714, 1896; Mearns, Bull. Amer. Mus. Nat. Hist. 
X, 318, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 99, 1900. 

Body long, slender and somewhat compressed. The depth of 
the body is less than one fifth of length of head; the eye is 
rather large, two fifths of the length of the postorbital part of 
the head. The pectoral is as long as the postorbital part of 
the head and twice as long as the ventral. The distance of the 
dorsal from the root of the caudal is one fourth its distance 
from the tip of the lower jaw. The anal ends under the end of 
the dorsal and begins in advance of the dorsal origin. The ven- 
tral is almost equidistant from the root of the caudal and the 
hind margin of the eye. D. 15 to 16; A. 15 to 17; Y. 6. 

The body is green with a broad silvery band along the sides 
and a dark bar on the operculum. The scales and bones are 
green. 

The silver gar, also called soft gar, billfish and needlefish, is 
found along our coast from Maine to Texas, and, though a 
marine species, it ascends rivers far above the limits of tides. 
It has been found in the Susquehanna river at Bainbridge Pa., 
and it also runs up the Delaware, the Hudson and other rivers. 

Schopff is authority for the names sea pike and sea snipe for 
this species at New York. Mit chill refers to it as the long-jawed 
fresh-water pike, and also as the billfish, a name still in use in 
various localities for this fish. Billed eel is the name used in 
Great South bay. DeKay calls it the banded garfish. Still 
another name used for the species is needlefish; and it is said 
that gar is derived from a Saxon word meaning needle. 

The species is found on our coast from Maine to the Gulf of 
Mexico. Mearns has found it in the Hudson and its estuaries in 
autumn. Mitchill observed it so frequently in that river that 
he considered it an inhabitant of fresh water. In Gravesend 
bay the fish occurs from June to September. In Shinnecock 
bay, Mecox bay, and Great South bay the writer collected it 
almost everywhere. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 319 1 

This species reaches a length of 4 feet. It is very destructive 
to small fishes, which are readily seized in its long and strongly 
toothed jaws. In the Gulf of Mexico the habits of the silver 
gar have been observed by Silas Stearns, whose notes are to be 
found in the Fishery Industries of the United States. It is found 
at Pensacola Fla. in the summer, but retreats farther south in 
the winter. 

The silver gar swims at the surface and feeds on schools of 
small fish. On the New York coast it devours killifishes, 
anchovies, silversides, and other little species. Its movements 
are swift and its aim certain. It has been known to seize 
mullet and other fish one third as large as itself and is some- 
times killed by attempting to swallow spiny fish too large to 
pass through its throat. It spawns in the bays in May and June. 
Mr Stearns found it to be an excellent food fish, though it is 
seldom eaten on the Florida coast;. 

Though the fish is one of excellent flavor and, according to 
DeKay, greatly relished by epicures, it meets with little favor in 
northern markets. Nothing is recorded about its breeding 
habits except the statement of Silas Stearns that it spawns in 
the bays of the Gulf coast in May and June. The fish is not 
hardy in transportation and in captivity. 

159 Tylosurus raphidoma (Ranzani) 
Hound fish; Guard fish 

Belone raphidoma Ranzani, Nov. Coram. Ac. Nat. Sci. Inst. Bonon, V, 359,. 

pi. 37, fig. 1, 1842, Brazil; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 249 r 

1866. 
Belone gerania Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XVIII, 437, 

1846, Martinique; Gunther, op. cit. 241, 1866. 
Belone crassa Poet, Memorias, II, 291, 1861, Cuba. 

Belone melanochira Poey, op. cit. 294, 1861; Gunther, op. cit. 249, 1866. 
Tylosurus gladius Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 239, 430, 1882, Pensacola; 

Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 146, pi. II, fig. 15, 1888, young, Ocean City, 

N. J. 
Tylosurus crassus Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 112, 1884. 
Tylosurus raphidoma Jordan & Eyeemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 715, 

1896, pi. CXVI, fig. 308, 1900. 

Body robust, little compressed, its greatest width a little more 
than two thirds its greatest depth, which is about one fourth 



320 NEW YORK STATE MUSElUM 

the length of head and one thirteenth of total to base of caudal; 
caudal peduncle slightly depressed, a little broader than deep, 
with a slight dermal keel; head broad, broader above than 
below, three tenths of total length to base of caudal; inter- 
orbital space nearly two thirds of length of postorbital part of 
head, with a broad, shallow, naked, median groove, which is 
wider behind and forks at the nape; supraorbital bones with 
radiating striae; distance between nostrils a little more than 
one sixth of length of snout; jaws comparatively short, strong, 
tapering, very stiff, lower jaw wider and longer than upper, both 
jaws with broad bands of small teeth on the sides, within these 
a series of very large knife-shaped teeth. The length of the 
longest teeth is a little more than three times their breadth. 
Posterior teeth in both jaws directed backward, anterior teeth 
erect, number of large teeth about 25 on each side of the upper 
jaw and 23 below, length of the large teeth about one fifth of 
diameter of eye, no vomerine teeth. Upper jaw from eye about 
one and three fourth times as long as the rest of the head; eye 
large, one seventh as long as snout, three eighths of postorbital 
part of head, and five ninths of interorbital width; maxillary 
entirely covered by preorbital; cheeks densely scaled; opercles 
scaly only along anterior margin; scales minute, specially on 
the back, somewhat larger below. Dorsal fin rather high in 
front, becoming low posteriorly, the hight of its anterior lobe 
equaling postorbital part of head, its longest ray two fifths of 
length of dorsal base. In a young example, 6 J inches long, the 
posterior part of the dorsal is much elevated, the longest ray 
equaling the distance from middle of pupil to end of head. 
Caudal fin lunate, its lower lobe nearly one half longer than 
the upper; middle rays about as long as eye; anal fin falcate, low 
posteriorly, its anterior lobe equal to anterior dorsal lobe; ven- 
tral fins inserted midway between base of caudal and middle of 
eye, a little shorter than pectorals, and equal to postorbital part 
of head; upper ray of pectorals broad, sharp edged, length of 
pectoral three and two fifths in head, and slightly greater than 
postorbital part of head. D. i, 21-23; A. i, 20-23; V. 6; P. 14. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 321 

Color dark green above, silvery below; dorsal and pectoral 
blackish; ventrals somewhat dusky; anal yellowish, the lobe 
slightly soiled; caudal dusky olivaceous; no suborbital bar and 
no scapular spot ; a slight dusky shade on upper posterior part of 
cheeks, and a yellowish bar on anterior edge of opercle; caudal 
keel black. 

This species is very closely allied to T. fodiator Jordan 
& Gilbert, described from Mazatlan, differing from it appar- 
ently in its longer jaws, slightly greater number of fin rays, 
and larger scales. Here described from the type of T. 
g 1 a d i u s Bean, which is 29 inches long. 

A young example was seined at Ocean City N. J. Aug. 1, 1887. 
D. i, 21; A. i, 20. Length 6J inches. 

A dark cutaneous flap attached along the side of the mandible 
and folded underneath, meeting its fellow of the opposite side 
and concealing a small part of the lower jaw; dorsal black, 
except on the first six rays, which are pale, much elevated at 
the posterior part, where the longest ray equals the distance 
from the middle of the eye to the end of the head. 14 black 
blotches on sides not extending to caudal, the largest two thirds 
as wide as length of eye; paired fins and anal pale; caudal the 
same, except anterior half of upper lobe, on which the membrane 
covering the rays is black, while the intervals between the rays 
are pale; back greenish; under surface, except mandibular flap, 
silvery. 

This species has not previously been recorded in the region. 

The usual range of the species is from the West Indies and 
Florida Keys to Brazil; the young straying northward occa- 
sionally in summer. The fish reaches a length of 5 feet and is 
sometimes dangerous to fishermen in its powerful leaps from 
the water. The scales and bones are green; the flesh is little 
esteemed for food on this account. A description and figure of 
the young are published by Bean in the Bulletin of the U. S. Fish 
Commission for 1887, p. 146, pi. 2, fig. 15. 



322 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

160 Tylosurus acus (Lacep&de) 
Howidfish 

Sphyraena acus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 6, pi. 1, fig. 3, 1803 r 

Martinique. 
Belone latimana Poey, Mernorias, II, 290, 18C1, Havana; Gunther, Cat- 

Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 249, 1866. 
Belone jonesi Goode, Am. Jour. Sci. Arts, 205, 1877, Bermuda; Gunther,. 

Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ill, 150, 1879. 
Belone caribbcea Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. "VI, 241, 1866, not of 

Le Sueur. 
Tylosurus acus Jordan & Fordice, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 355, 1886; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 716, 1896, pi. CXVI, fig. 309 r 

1900. 

Body slightly compressed, its greatest depth one twentieth of 
total length, its greatest width about one twenty-eighth of the 
same; free part of tail somewhat depressed, quadrate, its 
depth one third of greatest hight of body; caudal carinae moder- 
ate, black; head somewhat depressed above, striated, with a 
broad, shallow median groove which expands posteriorly into a 
wide, somewhat depressed triangular area, length of head con- 
tained three and one fourth times in total length without caudal ; 
superciliary region sharply striated; snout equal to maxillary, 
one fifth of total length, and three times postorbital part of head; 
mandible slightly shorter than distance from snout to nape, 10 
times vertical diameter of eye, and projecting beyond tip of upper 
jaw; eye equal to width of interorbital area and one eighth of 
length of head; teeth large, sharp, not very close, maxillary teeth 
about 60, the largest one sixth as long as the eye; mandibular 
teeth about 60, the largest one ninth as long as the eye; no 
vomerine teeth; dorsal origin at a distance from tip of snout 
equal to two and one fifth times length of head, slightly behind 
anal origin, length of dorsal base five times long diameter of 
eye, greatest hight of dorsal fin equal to greatest width of head ? 
and contained seven and one half times in length of head, last 
dorsal ray about one third of anterior rays; anal base terminat- 
ing anteriorly to end of dorsal at a distance equal to length of 
first dorsal ray; ventral origin midway between front of orbit 
and base of middle caudal rays, length of ventrals one seventh 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 323 

of length of head; length of pectoral slightly greater than that 
of postorbital part of head; caudal forked, the lower rays about 
one fourth longer than the upper. D. 23-24 ; A. 21-22 ; P. 13 ; V. 5 ; 
B. 12. Scales in lateral line (estimated) 380. 

Above deep green, below silvery white, opercles and cheeks 
silvery white, anterior rays of dorsal and pectoral fins blackish, 
caudal carinae also blackish. 

" The houndfish, as it is called in Bermuda, is a graceful, 
active species attaining to the length of 3 feet or more. It fre- 
quents swift tide courses, where it preys upon small fishes, par- 
ticularly the schools of silversides and anchovies. It takes the 
hook well." Ooode 

The species occurs in the West Indies and sometimes strays 
northward as far as Buzzards bay in summer; it was first 
described from Martinique. Individuals have been recorded from 
Beaufort N. C. 

Family hemirhamphidae 

Balaos 

Genus hyporhamphus Gill 

Body elongate, moderately compressed, the sides of the body 
not vertical, but more or less convex; the dorsal outline parallel 
with that of the belly; upper jaw short, lower jaw prolonged 
into a slender beak, bordered with membrane, this beak 
shorter in the young; premaxillaries forming a triangular 
plate, the teeth of which fit against the toothed part of 
the mandible; maxillaries joined to premaxillaries; teeth 
feeble, mostly tricuspid; gill rakers rather long; head covered 
above with large, shieldlike scales; scales large, deciduous; no 
finlets; caudal fin more or less forked, the lower lobe the longer; 
dorsal and anal similar, opposite each other, not modified in the 
males, last ray of dorsal usually short; ventrals small, inserted 
well forward, nearly midway between opercle and base of caudaL 
Oviparous. Air bladder large, simple, not cellular. Young with 
the lower jaw short. Sides in our species with a distinct silvery 
band, as in Atherina. Species numerous, in all warm seas, 



324 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIU^ 

going in large schools, but usually remaining near shore, feeding 
chiefly on green algae. Size comparatively small. 

161 Hyporhamphus roberti (Cuv. & Val.) 
Halfbeak 

Hcmirhampliiis roberti Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss, XIX, 24, 

1846, Cayenne; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 268, I860; Meek & 

Goss. Pnoc. Ac. Nat. Sci. P'hila. 223, 1884; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. O. 

VII, 147, pi. Ill, fig. 16, 1888; 19th Kept. Comma's. Fish. N. Y. 274, 

1890. 
Hemirhamplws unifasciatus Joedan & Gixbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

376, 1883. 
HyporJiamphus roberti Joedan & Eveemann, Check-List Fish. N. A. 321, 

1896; Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 721, 1896, pi. CXVII, fig. 312, 1900; 

Bean, 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 100, 1900. 

Body compressed, elongate, its greatest depth one eighth of 
total length to caudal base, its greatest width equal to post- 
orbital part of head; caudal peduncle short and deep, its least 
depth equal to eye. From eye to end of upper jaw equals one 
third the distance from end of upper jaw to hind margin of 
opercle. Head including lower jaw three eighths of total 
length without caudal, without projecting part of lower jaw 
two elevenths of the same; eye equal to interorbital width, 
about one eighth of length of head (one fourth of head to end 
of upper jaw) ; projecting part of lower jaw a little longer than 
rest of head; dorsal origin over the anal origin, 34 rows of 
scales between it and the nape, base of dorsal equal to eye and 
postorbital part of head combined, longest dorsal ray equal 
to postorbital part of head, last dorsal ray less than one half the 
longest, and about two thirds of the eye; anal base slightly 
shorter than dorsal base, longest anal ray slightly longer than 
postorbital part of head, last anal ray one half of eye; ventral 
origin about midway between eye and base of caudal, the fin 
about as long as the postorbital part of head; pectoral base 
high, on the level with the eye, the fin about as long as upper 
jaw and eye combined; caudal fin symmetrically forked, the 
middle rays two thirds as long as the external, and nearly twice 
as long as the eye (from end of scales only a little longer than 
the eye); dorsal and anal fins densely scaled; lateral line com- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 325 

xaencing at the isthmus, running close to the ventral edge of 
the body to the origin of the ventrals, where it rises slightly 
#nd is discontinued over the end of the anal base. D. ii, 13; 
A. i, 15; V. i, 6; P. 10; B. 12. Scales 7-54; vertebrae 34+17=51. 

Translucent green above; the scales above with dark edges; 
a narrow silvery band, about one half the width of eye, along 
the side from axil of pectoral to base of caudal; tip of lower 
jaw crimson in life and with a short filament; three narrow 
dark streaks along middle of back; anterior part of dorsal and 
anal and tips of caudal dusky, almost black; peritoneum black. 

The halfbeak is occasionally found on our northern coast to 
Cape Cod, but appears to have been unknown to Mitchill and 
De Kay. The species ranges southward to the Gulf of Mexico. 
We found 12 small examples Oct. 1, 1890, at Fire island. Two 
young examples were taken in Great Egg Harbor bay in 1887, 
and a larger one, 6^ inches long, was taken in the same locality. 
According to B. A. Bean this fish was not abundant in the 
Chesapeake, at Cape Charles, Ya., during September 1890. 

The halfbeak is a rare fish in New York waters. It attracts 
attention because of the great inequality in the length of the 
jaws, the lower jaw being many times as long as the short 
upper jaw. One of the most striking color marks of this fish 
is the crimson tip of the lower jaw. The body is silvery, darker 
on the back, and has a distinct silvery lateral stripe. 

In 1898 the writer collected this species for the New York 
state museum in small numbers in Great South bay, during 
August and September. Only one adult was obtained. The 
localities are: south side Great South bay, Clam Pond cove, 
and Horsefoot creek. This fish, like the silver gar, is readily 
taken at night by means of a lantern. The light dazes the fish, 
so that it does not see the net. 

Genus eileptorhajiphis Gill 
This genus consists of pelagic species related to Hemi- 
r h a m p h u s , the body much more slender and greatly com- 
pressed, and the pectorals very long, approaching those of the 
flying fishes. Yentrals small, inserted posteriorly. Air blad- 



326 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

der not described , probably cellular. One species in our 
limits. 

162 Euleptorhamphus velox Poey (?) 

Slender Halfbeak 

Euleptorhamphus velox Poey, Syn. Pise. Cubens, 383, 1867, Cuba; Jordan: 

& Evebmann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 724, 1896. 
^Hemirhamphus longirostris Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 276, 1866. 
Euleptorhamphus longirostris Putnam, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 238, 1870"; 
Hemirhamphus (Euleptorhamphus) longirostris Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 377, 1883. 

Body much compressed, elongate, its greatest depth one 
eleventh of total length from tip of upper jaw to base of caudal; 
greatest width of head equal to long diameter of eye; least 
depth of caudal peduncle two thirds of eye; snout equal to eye, 
three and one third in head (length of head here is from tip of 
upper jaw to hind margin of opercle); length of head including 
lower jaw two fifths of total to base of caudal, the lower jaw 
projecting beyond upper a distance equal to three times rest 
of head; eye three in head, greater than interorbital width; 
dorsal origin at a distance from tip of snout equal to four and 
two thirds times length of head (without lower jaw), dorsal 
base equal to nearly three times hight of body, longest dorsal 
ray two thirds length of head; the anal begins under the third 
ray of the dorsal, its base two and one third times hight of 
body, its longest ray equal to hight of body; ventral short,, 
slightly shorter than eye, three and two thirds in head, extend- 
ing nearly half way to anal origin; pectorals long, reaching half 
way from pectoral origin to anal origin, nearly twice as long as 
the head; caudal, lobes very unequal, the upper much shorter 
than the lower. D. 22; A. 21; V. 6; P. 7, the upper very broad 
and long, the others slender. The back with a very thin edge. 
Color light brown above, the sides from the upper edge of the 
pectoral base downward bright silvery, this extending also on 
the head. 

The species is found in the West Indies; it has been taken at 
Newport E. I., and at Cape Cod. It reaches a length of 18 
inches. The Hemirhamphus macrorhynchus of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 6'L i 

Olivier and Valenciennes, taken in the south Pacific, appears to 
Jbe closely related. 

Family scomberesocidae 

Sauries 
Genus scomberesox Lacepede 

Body elongate, compressed, covered with small, thin, decidu- 
ous scales, the general aspect being that of a mackerel; both 
jaws in the adult more or less prolonged, forming a slender 
beak, the lower jaw always the longer, teeth very feeble, 
pointed, maxillaries joined fast to premaxillaries; pectoral and 
-ventrals small; dorsal and anal low, similar to each other, each 
with four to six detached finlets, as in the Scombridae; gill 
rakers numerous, long and slender; pharyngeal bones essen- 
tially as in Exocoetus, fourth upper pharyngeal on each 
side wanting or fused with the third, third pharyngeal greatly 
enlarged, separate from its fellow, covered with tricuspid teeth, 
second with simple teeth, first toothless, lower, pharyngeals 
united, forming a triangular bone with concave surface, covered 
with tricuspid teeth; into the hollow of this bone the upper 
pharyngeals fit. 

Pelagic fishes, swimming close to the surface in large schools 
in temperate regions. They bear strong analogic resemblances 
to the mackerels in form, color and habits, as well as in the 
dorsal and anal finlets. The significance of these resemblances 
ris unknown. 

Young with the jaws short, precisely as in the genus Colo- 
la b i s , but lengthening with age, which is not the case in 
C o 1 o 1 a b i s . Air bladder large. 

Atlantic. 

163 Scomberesox saurus (Walbaum) 

Saury; Skipper 

Esox saurus Walbaum, Artedi. Gen. Pise. Ill, 93, 1792, Cornwall. 
Scomberesox scuteUatum Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. II, 132, 1821, 

Newfoundland. 
Scomberesox eqiiirostrum Le Sueue; Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. II, 132, 

1821. 



328 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Scombercsox storeri De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 229, pi. 34, fig. 111,. 

1842, New York; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 137, ph XXIV, kg. 4, 1867. 
Scomberesox saurus Fleming, Brit. Anim. 184; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

utfus. VI, 257, 1806; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 21, 1879; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus, 375, 1883; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 725, 1896, pi. CXVII, fig. 314^ 

1900. 

Body compressed, elongate, its greatest hight one ninth of 
total length to base of caudal; anal equal to eye and postorbital 
part of head combined; least hight of caudal peduncle equal to 
eye; both jaws slender and produced, the lower longer than 
upper, the distance from eye to tip of lower jaw equaling one 
fifth of total to base of caudal; eye one third as long as post- 
orbital part of head, about one fifth of length of upper jaw; 
small scales on opercle, but none on subopercle; body covered 
with small scales; dorsal origin at a distance from front of eye 
equal to five times hight of body, dorsal base three times as 
long as the eye, longest dorsal ray one half as long as post- 
orbital part of head, last dorsal ray equal to eye, five separate 
finlets behind/the dorsal; anal under the dorsal, its base slightly 
longer, as long as postorbital part of head, longest anal ray 
equal to longest of the dorsal, last anal ray scarcely equal to 
eye, six finlets behind the anal; caudal fin deeply forked, sym- 
metric, the outer rays as long as the anal base; ventrals mid- 
way between front of eye and base of caudal, length of fin about 
twice diameter of eye, distance from ventral origin to anal 
origin equal to length of upper jaw; length of pectoral one 
fourth the length of head to tip of upper jaw; lateral line con- 
taining minute, roundish pores, near the ventral edge, in modi- 
fied scales which extend obliquely backward. D. 11+v; A. 13+vi; 
V. i, 5; P. 14. Scales 14-124 (136 to free part of middle caudal 
rays, 80 rows from axil of pectoral to origin of dorsal) ; opercle 
with about 8 rows of scales. 

Back brownish to upper level of eye; sides with a silvery band,, 
nearly as broad as the eye and almost on the same level; lower 
parts silvery with a golden tinge overlying it. 

The saury grows to the length of 18 inches. It inhabits thb 
temperate parts of the Atlantic in Europe and the United 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 329 

States, congregating in schools in the open seas, where it is 
preyed on by porpoises, tunny, bonito, cod, bluefish and other 
predaceous animals. At Provincetown Mass., according to 
Storer, large quantities are yearly thrown on the shore, but 
they are considered worthless, while on other parts of Cape Cod 
they are taken in immense numbers, and are considered very 
nutritious food. 

The saury, or skipper, is migratory, arriving on our coast in 
summer and departing on the approach of cold weather. It is 
a surface swimmer and, therefore, is particularly liable to the 
attacks of voracious fishes. Couch says: 

It is sometimes seen to rise to the surface in large schools and 
fly over a considerable space. But the most interesting spec- 
tacle, and that which best displays their great agility, is when 
they are followed by a large company of porpoises, or their still 
more active and oppressive enemies, the tunny and bonito. 
Multitudes then mount to the surface and crowd on each other 
as they press forward. When still more closely pursued, they 
spring to the hight of several feet, leap over each other in sin- 
gular confusion, and again sink beneath. Still further urged, 
they mount again and rush along the surface by repeated starts 
for more than 100 feet, without once dipping beneath, or 
scarcely seeming to touch the water. At last the pursuer 
springs after them, usually across their course, and again they 
all disappear together. Amidst such multitudes — for more 
than 20,000 have been judged to be out of the water together — 
some must fall a prey to the enemy; but, so many hunting in 
company, it must be long before the pursuers abandon. From 
inspection we should scarcely judge the fish to be capable of 
such flights, for the fins, though numerous, are small and the 
pectorals far from large, though the angle of their articulation 
is well adapted to raise the fish by the direction of their motions 
to the surface. Its power of springing, therefore, must be 
chiefly ascribed to the tail and the finlets. It rarely takes bait; 
and, when this has happened, the boat has been under sail, the 
men fishing with a " lash," or slice of mackerel made to imitate 
the living body. 

The skipjack is frequently seen springing above the surface 
on our coasts, and no doubt at such times it is pursued by 
bluefish, bonito and, probably, mackerel or cod. 



330 NEW YORK STATE MUSElUM \ 

Family exocoetidae 

Flying Fishes 

Genus exocoetus (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body elongate, broad above, somewhat compressed; head 
short, blunt, narrowed below; mouth small; jaws very short, 
about equal; chin without barbel; maxillaries not joined to the 
premaxillaries; teeth very feeble or wanting; eyes large; gill 
rakers moderate; scales large, deciduous; no Unlets; dorsal fin 
short, opposite anal; caudal widely forked, the lower lobe the 
longer; pectoral fins very long, reaching past the beginning of 
the anal, and serving as organs of flight, their great size en- 
abling these fishes to sustain themselves in the air for some 
time; ventral fins large, posteriorly inserted, also used as organs 
of flight; air bladder very large; no pyloric caeca. Species 
numerous in all warm seas, living mostly in the open water and 
swimming in large schools. 

Subgenus exocoetus 

164 Exocoetus volitans Linnaeus 

Flymg Fish 

Exocoetus volitans Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 316, 1758; Jordan & Meek, 

Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus, 57, 1885; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 734, 1896, pi. CXVIII, fig. 318, 190O. 
Exocoetus rubescens Rafinesque, Amer. Month. Mag. II, 205, January, 1818, 

Banks of Newfoundland. 
Exocoetus affinis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 288, 1866. 
Exocoetus melanurus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 379, 

1883. 
Exocoetus exiliens Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 380 and 904, 1883. 

The hight of the body is nearly one sixth of the total length 
without caudal, the length of the head one fourth. The depth 
of the head equals the distance from the tip of the snout to 
the hind margin of the orbit. Snout little produced, shorter 
than eye, which is two sevenths to one third as long as the head; 
interorbital space fiat or slightly concave, slightly greater than 
diameter of eye; width of body at pectoral base four sevenths 
of length of head; dorsal origin opposite anal origin, length of 
longest dorsal ray two fifths of length of head; anal fin long, its 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 331 

longest ray one third of length of head; pectoral fin reaching 
slightly beyond dorsal and anal, its length fiye sevenths of that 
of the body; ventral origin midway between the eye and the base 
of caudal, the fin reaching beyond the middle of the anal base, its 
length two sevenths of length of body. D. 11-13; A. 11-13. 
Scales 55 (30 to 35 rows between occiput and dorsal origin; 25 
rows before ventrals), 6 rows between the origin of dorsal and 
the lateral line. 

Pectoral fin with an oblique white blotch across its lower half, 
and with a narrow whitish edge; ventrals grayish or whitish, 
with a slight dusky shade in the axil; dorsal and anal without 
dark markings. 

The flying fish is found in open seas on the Atlantic coast; it 
extends northward to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland; it is 
known also in southern Europe, and in the Pacific and the Indian 
ocean. 

The flight of the flying fish has been much discussed, for and 
against; but no doubt remains in the minds of those who have 
seen the action at close range that the flight is genuine. Not 
only can the fish start from the water and rise into the air, but 
it can also change its direction suddenly at will, to escape its 
pursuers, and it has been observed to hover like a humming bird 
or a great moth and then dart off suddenly out of reach of the 
net thrust out to secure it. Such an occurrence took place at 
Woods Hole Mass., some years ago in the presence of the writer. 

The flying fish is an excellent food fish, but does not come to 
our markets frequently, because of its habitat in the open sea. It 
comes aboard vessels occasionally in storms or when trying to 
■escape from its enemies, and is highly prized by its captors. 

The species reaches the length of 1 foot. 

Subgenus cypselurus Swainson 

165 Exocoetus heterurus Rafinesque 

Flying Fish 

Exocoetus heterurus Rafinesque, Caratteri Ale. Nuov. Gen. 58. 1810, 
Palermo; Jordan & Meek, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 59, 1885; Jordan 
& Eyermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 735, 1896. 



332 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Exocoetus comatus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y, 418, pi. V r 

fig. 1, 1815, New York. 
Exocoetus iiorcboraecnsis Mitchill, Trans, Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, pi. V, 

fig. 3, 1815; Amer. Month. Mag. II, 323, March, 1818; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna, Fishes, 230, pi. 36, fig. 114, 1842, near New York; Jordan &. 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat Mus. 904, 1883. 

Body slender, its greatest depth contained from five to five and 
one third times in the total length without caudal; length of 
head contained four and two thirds in total to base of caudal; 
the snout slightly shorter than eye, its length three and three 
fourths times in head, while that of the eye is contained three 
and one fifth times; dorsal origin in advance of anal origin, dor- 
sal base from one and one half to two times as long as anal base; 
first ray of pectoral simple, second divided, third and fourth rays 
longest, extending to last ray of dorsal and contained one and 
four ninth times in total length without caudal; ventral origin 
midway between eye and base of caudal fin, the ventrals reaching 
last ray of anal, the length contained two and three fourth 
times in length of body. The lower caudal lobe is three fifths 
longer than the upper, which is equal in length to the hight of 
the body. D. 14; A. 9; P. 15; V. 6. Scales 58-63, 33 rows before 
the dorsal fin, 7 rows between the dorsal origin and the lateral 
line; vertebrae 31+14=45. 

Pectoral fins grayish brown with a broad whitish margin, an 
oblique white band on their lower half; dorsal and anal uniform 
grayish without bands; ventrals whitish, slightly dusky in the 
axils. 

The species grows to the length of 15 inches. The young often 
have a long barbel at the chin, this disappearing entirely in the 
adult. 

Dr Mitchill described a specimen, 1 foot long, which was taken 
in a seine near New York. 

This flying fish inhabits the Atlantic ocean and is most abund- 
ant in the tropical parts, but strays northward to England and 
to the banks of Newfoundland. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 333 

166 Exocoetus f meatus (Mitchill) 
Flying Fish 

Exocoetus furcatus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 449. pi. V r 

fig. 2, 1815; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 231, 1842. 
Exocoetus nuttalli Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 10, pi. IV, fig. 1, 

1821, Gulf of Mexico; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 286, 1866. 
Cypsclurus furcatus Jordan & Gilrert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 380, 

1883, 
Exocoetus furcatus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 286, 1866; Jordan 

& Meek, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 61, 1885; Jordan & Evermanx, Bull. 

47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 737, 1896. 

Body slender, compressed, moderately elongate, its depth con- 
tained five and one fourth times in total length without caudal; 
head not very broad, much narrowed forward, its length con- 
tained four and one half times in total without caudal; the snout 
rather pointed, more compressed than in other species; inter- 
orbital area flat, its width at anterior margin of orbit equal to 
diameter of eye, which is one third of length of head; mouth 
small, maxillary not reaching orbit,- its length four and three 
fourths in head, mandible two and one half in head; snout 
four and one fifth in head; eye one third of length of head; 
pectoral fin long and broad, its length one and two ninths in 
length of body, extending to 10th ray of dorsal, first pectoral 
ray simple, slightly more than one half the length of fin, second 
ray divided, third and fourth rays longest; ventral origin mid- 
way between hind margin of eye and base of caudal, ventrals 
long, four ninths of length of body, their tips reaching almost to 
caudal fin; dorsal fin rather high, its longest ray two thirds as 
long as the head, its base nearly equal to head; anal fin inserted 
farther back than dorsal, its base three fifths as long as dorsal 
base, its longest ray one half as long as the head; lower caudal 
lobe two sevenths as long as the body. D. 13; A. 9 to 10. Scales 
in lateral line 46; about 29 rows in advance of dorsal fin and 
about 23 on the lateral line in advance of the ventrals; 8 rows 
between the dorsal origin and the lateral line. 

Brownish above, silvery below; the lower posterior half of 
pectorals black, the upper pectoral rays with a broad white 
band, the tips of the rays whitish, other parts marbled with 



334 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

black ; the ventrals black except on two outer rays, on inner ray, 
and a small spot on next two inner rays, about one fourth dis- 
tance from ventral origin; axil of ventrals pale. Gtinther 
describes the ventral as having, the posterior part black. Three 
black spots on dorsal fin and three blackish cross bands on the 
lower caudal lobe, a black spot on tips of third, fourth, fifth, 
and sixth rays of the anal, or the lower part of the fin some- 
times black. 

The species grows to the length of 6 inches. Young indi- 
viduals have barbels at the symphysis of the lower jaw, which 
vary in length and disappear with age. The fish is found 
abundantly in warm seas, ranging north to Cape Cod and to the 
Mediterranean. Specimens have been taken at Newport R. I. 

Dr Mitchill described the species from an example 3 inches 
long. His specimen had two barbels, each half an inch long. 
The eyes, according to his description and figure, are very much 
larger than in Exocoetus heterurus. 

167 Exocoetus gibbifroxis Cuv. & Val. 

Exocoetus gibbifrons Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIX, 118, 
1846, Atlantic; Jordan & Meek, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 65, 1885; 
Joedan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 528, 1886; Joed an & Eveemann, Bull. 
47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 741, 1896. 

Body robust, little compressed, its greatest depth one sixth 
of the total length without caudal; head rather short, inter- 
orbital area slightly concave, about one fourth wider than eye; 
profile of snout convex, descending more abruptly than in any 
other American species, making a decided curve downward; 
snout rather blunt, one fourth as long as the head; length of 
head contained four and three fifth times in total without caudal; 
maxillary two ninths as long as head; pectoral fins rather broad 
and long, two thirds of total without caudal, their tips reaching 
to tips of last rays of dorsal, first ray of pectoral simple, 
its length five elevenths of length of fin, second pectoral 
ray simple, about one half longer than first ray, third pectoral 
ray divided, fourth ray longest; ventral origin midway between 
hind margin of eye and root of caudal, length of ventrals about 
one third of total without caudal, the fin reaching to last anal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 335 

ray; dorsal origin far in advance of anal origin, longest dorsal 
ray five elevenths of length of head; anal base five eighths as 
long as dorsal base, longest anal ray one third of length of head; 
least depth of caudal peduncle contained three and one fifth 
times in length of head, the lower caudal lobe two sevenths of 
total length without caudal. D. 12; A. 8. Scales before dorsal 
30; before ventrals 25; between dorsal origin and lateral line 7. 

Color brown above, silvery below; on each scale on the upper 
part of the body a darker brown spot near its posterior 
extremity, which gives the appearance of a dark brown streak 
along each row of scales; pectorals uniformly brown, or greenish 
brown; ventrals dusky, nearly black mesially, the posterior part 
of the fin still darker; no dark markings on dorsal or anal fins; 
caudal dusky, plain. 

Atlantic ocean, two specimens known, both examined by Dr 
Jordan, from whose description the above was taken. One indi- 
vidual was secured by Samuel Powell at Newport E. I.; the other 
was obtained by Dussumier in the Atlantic ocean and by him 
presented to the Museum of Natural History at Paris. This- 
example is 9 inches long. 

Order hemibranchii 

Half-gills 

Family gasterosteidae 

Sticklebacks 

Genus eucalia Jordan 

Fresh-water sticklebacks, feebly armed, the skin not mailed,, 
the dorsal spines few and nondivergent, the gill membranes 
forming a free fold across the isthmus, pubic bones fully united. 
One species known. 

168 Eucalia inconstans (Kirtlaud) 

Brook Stickleback 

Gasterosteus inconstans Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. Ill, 273, pi. II,. 
fig. 1, 1841, brooks of Trumbull County, Ohio; Stores, Syn. Fish. 
N. A. 64, 1846; Bean, Bull. 15, U. S. Nat. Mus. 130, 1879; Jordan: 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 394, 1883. 



33G NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Eucalia inconstans Jordan, Proc. Ac. Nat Sci. Phila. 65, 1877; Eigenmann, 
Proc. Ac. Nat Sci. Phila. 23S, 1886; Bean, Fishes Penna. 98, 1893; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 744, 1896; Evermann 
& Kendall, Kept. U. S. Commr. Fish & Fisheries for 1894, 599, 
18943, Franklin County, Vermont. 

The body is more elongated than in the other sticklebacks 
described, and stouter, the caudal peduncle has no keel, and 
the skin is entirely smooth. The ventral spines and pubic bones 
are very small, the latter concealed under the skin. The 
thoracic processes are covered by the skin, slender and widely 
separated. The dorsal spines are short, nearly equal in length, 
placed in a straight line, the anterior spines shortest. The 
ventral spines are small and serrated. The depth equals one 
fourth and the head two sevenths of the total length without 
caudal. D. III-IV, I, 10; A. I, 10. Males in the breeding 
season are jet black, tinged entirely with coppery red. The 
females and young are greenish, variegated with darker. 

The brook stickleback occurs in the fresh waters from New 
York westward to Dakota and is said to extend north to Green- 
land. A variety from Cayuga lake has been described by Dr 
Jordan. It has the ventral spines longer than the pubic bones. 

In Pennsylvania the brook stickleback inhabits the Ohio val- 
ley. In New York it occurs only in the western part, being 
specially abundant in the Lake Ontario region. The U. S. Fish 
Commission has specimens from Salt brook, 1^ miles above 
Nine Mile point, June 11, 1893, Mill creek, Sacket .Harbor, July 
2, Cape Vincent, July 2, Black river, Huntingtonville, July 
5, Three Mile creek, Oswego, July 27, Four Mile creek, Nine 
Mile point, near Webster, August 9, and Long Pond, Char- 
lotte, August 17. Evermann and Bean collected it also July 
28, 1894, at Saranac river, Plattsburg. Dr Meek found it com- 
mon in standing and sluggish water on the flats of Cayuga lake 
basin. John W. Titcomb obtained it from a small brook in 
Franklin county, Vt., the outlet of Franklin pond, a tributary 
of Pike river, which flows into Missisquoi bay. 

It grows to a length of 1\ inches, and has no value as food, 
but is an interesting aquarium fish. It is however extremely 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 337 

pugnacious, and, when these fish are kept in confinement, great 
mortality is caused by their quarrels. The species is abundant 
in small streams, where it secretes itself among aquatic plants 
and is always alert to attack small fishes and insects. Speci- 
mens have recently been obtained from an artesian well in 
South Dakota, the well having a depth of 700 feet. From this 
great depth the fish were brought up in full strength and vigor, 
and they were kept in an aquarium several months afterward. 
A similar occurrence has been recorded by Mrs Eigenmann, in 
the Proceedings of the National Museum for 1883, p. 217, of 
Williamson's stickleback at San Bernardino Cal. The well in 
this case was only 191 feet deep. There is no doubt that the 
fish reach the wells through streams which become subter- 
ranean in a certain part of their course. 

This species is a nest-builder and is vigorous in the defense 
of its eggs and young. 

This fresh-water stickleback appears to live better in bal- 
anced tanks than in flowing water and is not hardy in captivity. 
It feeds readily on chopped hard clams and Gammarus, the 
latter being one of its natural foods. 

169 Eucalia inconstans cayuga Jordan 
Cayuga Lake Stickleback 

Eucalia inconstans cayuga Jordan, Man. Yert. ed. 1, 249, 1876, Cayuga 
Lake, Ithaca, N. Y.; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci. IV, 312, 1888; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 744, 1896. 

According to Dr Jordan, this variety has longer ventral 
spines than the common brook stickleback, these being as long 
as the pubic bones (two thirds as long in inconstans). 
The size is generally smaller, but the fin rays are the same as 
in inconstans. 

The variety occurs in small brooks and in the lakes about 
Ithaca and Syracuse X. Y. 

Genus pygosteus Brevoort 

This genus is characterized by the presence of 9 to 11 
divergent spines and by the weakness of its innominate bones. 



33S NEW YORK STATE MTJSEIUM 

As in E u c a 1 i a , the gill membranes form a broad fold across 
the isthmus. Vertebrae 14+18=32. Species two, in northern 
regions, the following cosmopolitan; a second, Pygosteus 
sinensis Guichenot, from China. 

170 Pygosteus pungitius (Linnaeus) 
10 spined Stickleback 

Gasterosteus pungitius Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 296, 1758, Europe; Gun- 
thee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 6, 1859; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 43, 
pi. VIII, fig. 5, 1867; Bean, Bull. 15, U. S. Nat. Mus. 133, 134, 1879;. 
Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 398, 1883; Bean, 19th 
Kept. Commrs. Fish. N. Y. 244, 1890. 

Gasterosteus ocoidentalis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 68, pi. 42, fig. 135, 
1842; Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 63, 1846. 

Gasterosteus concinnus Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 57, 1836, Sas- 
katchewan River and Great Bear Lake. 

Gasterosteus nebulosus Agassiz, Lake Superior, 310, pi. IV, fig. 2, 1850. 

Pygosteus pungitius Eigenmann, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 235, 1886; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 745, 1896; Bean, 52d Ann. 
Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 100, 1900. 

Body moderately elongate and compressed, its greatest depth 
one sixth of total length to base of caudal rays, its width one 
tenth of the same length and two fifths of the length of the 
head. The head is one fourth of total length to base of caudal, 
its width contained two and one third times in its length; the 
length of the snout equals the width of the interorbital space, 
and nearly one fourth the length of the head; the upper jaw is 
slightly more than one fourth the length of head, and the man- 
dible is nearly as long as the eye, which is contained about three 
and one fourth times in length of head. The spinous dorsal 
is inserted at a distance from tip of snout equal to two sevenths 
of total length without caudal; its base is a little longer than 
the head; its first and second spines equal, and one fourth as 
long as the head; its last spine less than one fifth as long as 
the head. The base of the soft dorsal is three times as long 
as the mandible; the antecedent spine is as long as the mandible; 
the first ray is longest, and is twice as long as the upper jaw. 
The anal origin is twice as far from tip of snout as the spinous 
dorsal; the anal base is twice as long as the middle caudal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 339 

rays, and equals twice width of body; the first anal 
spine is about equal to one half the depth of body; 
the first anal ray longest and one half as long as 
the head. The middle caudal rays equal width of head 
and about three sevenths of length of head; the external rays' 
are slightly more than one half the length of head; the length of 
the caudai peduncle equals three times the length of last dorsal 
spine; the least hight of the peduncle is contained seven and 
one third times in length of head. The pectoral is twice as 
long as the mandible; the ventral is at a distance from tip of 
snout equal to three times length of ventral spine; the ventral 
spine is usually about two fifths as long as the head, or some- 
what more. The dorsal spines are all in the same line in a 
furrow, but they diverge so as to form a zigzag series. Pubic 
bone weak, lanceolate, not serrate, its length about two fifths 
head; ventral spines slender, pungent, serrulate above and below; 
gill membranes free from isthmus behind, gill rakers long and 
slender; caudal fin lunate, slightly emarginate. D. VII to XI, 
I, 9; A. I, 8. Color brownish above, the upper part of sides with 
numerous darker blotches simulating bands, lower parts silvery, 
pubic and thoracic regions often black. Length 3 inches. 

The 10 spined stickleback inhabits the northern parts of 
Europe, the Atlantic coast of America from Long Island to the 
Arctic ocean; also tributaries of the Great lakes and northward 
into British America and Alaska. In the Arctic fresh waters it 
is represented by a form with shorter ventral spine, smaller eye, 
lower fins, and other characters. 

Notwithstanding its small size, this fish serves a very useful 
purpose as food for the salmon and trout, and arctic explorers 
have utilized it in vast numbers for feeding their dogs. Occur- 
ring as it does in shallow fresh-water lagoons in summer, 
apparently landlocked, and freezing solidly in winter, it has 
always been a mystery how it survives. 

This stickleback is less abundant in Gravesend bay than the 
two spined and three spined species. In Great South bay it is 
known as the thornback. In 1890 it was seen onlv once. In 



310 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

1898 the state museum obtained a few specimens from Shinne- 
cock bay, Peconic bay and several stations in Great South bay. 
This species appears to run upstream farther than the others. 
In the aquarium it often attacks fish and tears their fins into 
shreds. During the breeding season the male becomes of a rosy 
hue beneath. It is a hardy fish, enduring captivity better than 
the other species. Often found in pools in the woods where 
seemingly no other fish occur. (After Eugene Smith 1 ) 

Genus gasterosteus (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Sticklebacks with the innominate bones coalescent on the 
median line of the belly, behind and between the ventral fins, 
forming a triangular or lanceolate plate. Gill membranes 
united to the isthmus; tail slender, and usually keeled; skin 
variously covered with bony plates; dorsal spines three in num- 
ber, strong, with nondivergent bases. Species numerous. 
Fresh waters and shores of all northern regions; the species 
highly variable, those found in the sea usually with the body 
completely mailed, the fresh and brackish water forms variously 
mailed or even altogether naked. 

171 Gasterosteus bispinosus Walbaum 
Two. spined Stickleback 

Gasterosteus bispinosus Walbaum, Artedi, Gen. Pise. Ill, 450, 1792; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 396, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 748, 1896, pi. CXIX, fig. 320, as aculeatus, 
1900; Eugene Smith, Proc. linn. Soc. N. Y. 31, 1808; Bean, 52d Ann. 
Rept., N. Y. State Mus. 100, 1900. 

Gasterosteus aculeatus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst XI, 5, 1879; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 395, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 
98, 1893; net of Linnaeus. 

Gasterosteus neoboracensis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 66, pi. 6, fig. 17, 
1842. 

Gasterosteus biaculeatus Mitchill, Trans. Dit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 430, pi. I, 
fig. 10, 1815, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 65, pi. 3, fig. 8, 
1842, New York and Hudson River to Albany; Storer, Syn. Fish. 
N. A. 62, 1846; Hist. Fish. Mass. 40, pi. VIII, figs. 2, 3, 1867. 

The body is fusiform, moderately elongate and compressed; 

the caudal peduncle is short and slender and distinctly keeled. 

The hight of the body is less than the length of the head and 



Linn. soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 30-31. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 341 

about one fourth of the total without caudal. The eye is one 
fourth as long as the head. The sides are covered by about 
33 bony plates. The processes from the shoulder girdle cover 
the breast except a small naked area between them. At the 
base of each dorsal spine is a large rough bony plate to which 
the spine is hinged in such a way that it may be fixed and im- 
movable at the will of the fish. The pelvic bone is lanceolate. 
A cusp at the base of the ventral spine. The spines are all 
closely serrated, those in front of the anal and soft dorsal 
smallest. D. II, I, 11-13; A. I, 9. 

The living fish is greenish olive, lighter on the sides, the 
lower parts silvery. The gill covers are silvery with dusky 
spots; the iris silvery; pupil black; fins pale; the ventral mem- 
brane sometimes red. 

The two spined stickleback or burn stickle is found on both 
sides of the Atlantic, its range on our coast extending southward 
at least to New Jersey and northward to Labrador. This is the 
largest of the sticklebacks and is said to grow to a length of 
4 inches. In the North Pacific and Bering sea there is a related 
species, G. cataphractus Pallas, which has been styled 
the salmon killer. In Pennsylvania Mr Seal has found this 
fish abundant in pools and ditches along the Delaware. 

De Kay found this stickleback in the salt creeks about New 
York and in the Hudson river as far up as Albany. The state 
museum obtained it in 1898 in Shinnecock bay, July 22, and in 
Scallop pond, Peconic bay, July 28. It is not common in sum- 
mer. The following notes are from an article by Eugene Smith 
of Hoboken. 

Exceedingly common in the tidal creeks in the spring. The 
nest of this fish is made on and in the sand with the aid of bits 
of straw, weeds, etc. After the female has deposited the eggs, 
the male stands over the nest and fans it with the pectorals, 
only leaving to get food, or to resent an intrusion; he often 
kills the female with whom he has paired. During this time the 
male is red below and bluish and greenish above, with indistinct 
darker bars. After the spawning season is over, they seem to 
die off, at least they do in captivity. With proper attention 
the young can be raised to quite a size. 



342 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The two spined stickleback thrives and breeds in captivity^ 
but will not endure extreme heat in summer, and the adults wilJ 
eat their young. 

Genus apeltes De Kay 

Body moderately elongate, somewhat compressed, the back 
elevated at the beginning of the soft dorsal fin, thence declining 
in nearly a straight line to tip of snout; tail very slender, not 
keeled; no bony dermal plates, the skin naked; innominate bones 
not joined on the median line but separated, forming a bony 
ridge on each side of the abdomen, below which the strong ven- 
tral spines are depressible; chest mostly bony; bare area in 
front of pectorals small, but distinct; gill rakers rather short, 
gill membranes attached to the isthmus, without free edge; 
free dorsal spines three, strong, the first the longest, directed 
to one side, the next two directed toward the other side at dif- 
ferent angles, attached spine of dorsal and anal well developed,. 
a bony ridge on each side of the spinous dorsal. 

172 Apeltes quadracus (Mit chill) 
Four spined Stickleback 

Gasterostens quadracus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 430, pi. 

I, fig. 11, 1815, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 67, pi. 6, fig.. 

18, 1842, the generic name Apeltes proposed TGiiNTHER, Cat. Fish. 

Brit. Mus. I, 7, 1859; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 41, pi. VIII, fig. 4, 1867. 
Gasterostens millepunctatus Ayres, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 294, pi. XII, 

fig. 3, 1844. Old Mans Harbor, Long Island. 
Apeltes quadracus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 5, 1879; Jordan 

& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 396, 1883; Bean, 19th Kept. 

Oommrs. Fish. N. Y. 244, 1890; Fishes Penna. 99, 1893; Joedan & 

Eteemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 752, 1896, pi. CXX, fig. 322, 1800;. 

Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. No. 9. p. 31, 1898; Mearns, Bull. 

Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 318, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. Stale 

Mus. 100, 1900. 

The body is fusiform in shape, the snout pointed and the 
caudal peduncle slender. The sides are somewhat compressed. 
The depth of the body equals the length of the head and is one 
fourth of the total without caudal. D. III-IV, I, 11; A. i, 8. 
The skin is scaleless. The first dorsal spine is the highest, its 
length about half that of head. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 343 

The living fish has the upper parts greenish brown. Below 
the lateral line the color is darker and is mottled by the 
extension upward of the white color of the abdomen. Young 
specimens have the brown color aggregated into several cross 
bands, which become indistinct in the adult. The ventral mem- 
brane is broad, scarlet in color, giving rise to one of the popular 
names. 

In Great South Bay the four spined stickleback is called thorn- 
back. This is the " bloody stickleback " of Storer's Fishes of 
Massachusetts. It appears to be the commonest member of its 
family in this bay in September and early October. We found 
it common in various parts of the bay at a time when the two 
spined stickleback, Gasterosteus bispinosus, was 
not once seined, and only a single specimen of the 10-spined, 
P. pungitius, was secured. Localities at which we have col- 
lected the species are: Swan creek, Blue Point cove, Blue Point 
Lifesaving station, Great River beach and Fire Island. The 
species is most plentiful in brackish streams where there is an 
abundance of aquatic plants. In 1898 the state museum ob- 
tained it from the following additional localities: Shinnecock 
bay, Peconic bay, Mecox bay, Howell's point, Great South bay, 
Bellport I/ifesaving station, MchoPs point and Fire Island 
inlet. Examples taken at Patchogue August 24 were in fresh 
water. 

This species reaches a length of 2 inches. It swarms in the 
shallow waters, specially in the northern part of its habitat, 
and is particularly plentiful in brackish streams where there 
are numerous aquatic plants. In salt marshes it is one of the 
commonest of the little fishes, and it is not uncommon in the 
mouths of rivers. In Pennsylvania Prof. Cope records it as 
abundant in the tide water streams and ditches of the Delaware. 
It runs up stream into purely fresh water and is commonly asso- 
ciated with the killies in small ditches and pools. This stickle- 
back builds a rudimentary nest of plant bits, and behaves like 
the above mentioned P. pungitius and G. bispinosus, 
in most respects. It is hardy and can be kept all the year 



344 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

round. I have successfully raised this fish to nearly mature 
growth. (After Eugene Smith 1 ) 

The remarkable spinning habits of this fish have been 
described by Prof. John A. Ryder in the bulletin of the U. S. 
Fish Commission for 1881. 

Family fistulariidae 

Cornet Fishes 

Genus fistularia Linnaeus 

Body extremely elongate, much depressed, broader than deep; 
scaleless, but having bony plates present on various parts of the 
body, mostly covered by the skin; head very long, the anterior 
bones of the skull much produced, forming a long tube, which 
terminates in the narrow mouth, this tube formed by the sym- 
plectic, proethmoid, metapterygoid, mesopterygoid, quadrate, 
palatines, vomer, and mesethmoid; both jaws, and usually the 
vomer and palatines also, with minute teeth; membrane uniting 
the bones of the tube below, very lax, so that the tube is capable 
of much dilation; post-temporal coosisified with the cranium; 
branchiostegals five to seven; gills four, a slit behind the fourth; 
gill membranes separate, free from the isthmus, gill rakers 
obsolete; basibranchial elements wanting, pseudobranchiae 
wanting; air bladder large; spinous dorsal fin entirely 
absent, soft dorsal short, posterior, somewhat elevated; 
anal fin opposite it and similar; caudal fin forked, the 
middle rays produced into a long filament; pectorals small, with 
a broad base, preceded by a smooth area as in Gasterosteidae, 
pectoral ossicles 3; interclavicles greatly lengthened, supra- 
clavicles very small; ventral fins very small, wide apart, abdom- 
inal (through partial atrophy of the. girdle, by which they lose 
connection with the interclavicles), far in advance of the dorsal, 
composed of six soft rays; pyloric caeca few; intestine short; 
vertebrae very numerous (4+44 to 49+28 to 33), the first four ver- 
tebrae very long. Fishes of the tropical seas, related to the 



Linn. Soc. N. Y. Puo<>. 1897. no. 9, p. 31. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 345 

sticklebacks in structure, but with prolonged snout and different 
ventral fins. A single genus, with three species. 

The bony shields, characteristic of this genus, are the 
following: 

1 A narrow strip along the median line of the back behind 
the skull (confluent neural spines). 

2 The pair of broader lateral dorsal shields are peculiar bones, 
separated processes of the occipital bone. These shields are the 
longest, provided anteriorly with a ridge, which is prolonged 
and extends far backward between the muscles of the back. This 
ridge is flexible, and does not interfere with the lateral move- 
ments of the fish; it appears to serve as a base for the attach- 
ment of muscular fibers. 

3 The narrow shield on the side is the postclavicle, its pos- 
terior part being dilated and fixed to the lateral dorsal shields. 

4 The ventral shields are the interclavicles; their posterior 
half is broadest, much pitted inferiorly; they are narrower before 
the middle, leaving a free lanceolate space between them, and 
are again a little widened anteriorly, where they join the 
clavicle and urohyal. These plates extend as far backward as 
the ankylosed vertebrae. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

173 Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus 
Trumpet Fish 

Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X. I, 312, 1758; De Kay. X. Y. 
Fauna, Fishes, 233, 1842; Stoker, Syn. Fish. X. A. 191, 1846; Grx- 
thee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 529, 1861; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 
IT. S. Xat. Mus: 389, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 146. 1888; 19th 
Kept. Cominrs. Fish. X. Y. 273, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
U. S. Xat. Mus. 757, 1896. 

Fistularia neoboracensis Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. X. Y. I, 437, 
pi. Ill, fig. 8, 1815. 

Fistularia serrata De Kay. X. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 232. pi. 35, fig. 113, 1842, 
Massachusetts; Storer. Hist. Fish. Mass. 140. pi. XXV, fig. 1, 1867; 
Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 4, 1879, Rockport Mass., not of 
Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 1, 349, 1817. 

Body greatly depressed, elongate, its depth about one thirty- 
fourth of its length to base of caudal and only about two thirds 
of its width. The middle caudal rays are produced into a thread- 



346 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

like filament, which is a little longer than the snout. The snout 
is greatly prolonged, two and three fourths times as long as the 
rest of the head. Mouth at the end of the long tube oblique, the 
lower jaw projecting a distance equal to one third of diameter of 
eye; upper jaw two thirds as long as postorbital part of head, 
lower jaw nearly twice as long as upper; eye nearly equal in 
length to upper jaw, about nine and one half in length of head; 
snout three and two thirds in total length to caudal base; margin 
of orbit with thin, sharp points in front and behind; dorsal origin 
at a distance from tip of snout equal to three times length of 
snout, base of dorsal slightly longer than eye, longest dorsal ray 
one fourth the length of snout; anal exactly opposite dorsal, its 
base equally long, its longest ray also equal to longest dorsal 
ray; ventrals small on a narrow base, their distance from tip 
of snout and end of external caudal rays nearly equal; pectorals 
short, on a broad base, their length one half the length of head 
without the snout; caudal lobes equal, the upper external rays 
three fifths as long as the head without the snout. D. 14; A. 13; 
V.7. 

Reddish brown above, with numerous large, oblong, pale blue 
spots on the sides and back, arranged in series ; under surface of 
head and belly at least to ventral fins, pale and silvery. 

The fish was known to Dr Mitchill and described by him from 
a specimen 14 inches long. We are not informed where he ob- 
tained this example, but it was an individual in the fresh condi- 
tion. K Dr De Kay called it the spotted pipefish and takes his 
account from the report of Dr Mitchill. 

The trumpet fish is generally common in the West Indies and 
neighboring seas, where it is said to reach the length of 6 feet. 
It is occasionally taken as far north as Cape Cod. It is not 
common in that region, and is apparently rare in Great South 
bay, though three examples were taken at Fire island, Septem- 
ber 30, and -one at Blue Point Lifesaving station, October 7. In 
Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J. the species is moderately abundant, 
as the writer seined 25 specimens in August and September 1887. 

The species is interesting on account of its peculiar structure, 
but is without economic value. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 347 

Order lophqbranchii 

1 

Tuftgills 

Suborder SYNGNATHI 
Family syngnathidae 
Pipefishes 
Subfamily syngnathinae 
Genus siphostoma Raflnesque 
Body elongate, very slender, six or seven-angled, not com- 
pressed, tapering into a very long tail, the dorsal keels of the 
trunk not continuous with those of the tail; head slender, taper- 
ing into a long, tubelike, subterete snout, which bears the very 
short, toothless jaws at the end; humeral bones firmly united 
with the "breast ring;-' body covered with a series of bony, 
keeled, radiated plates, arranged in linear series; dorsal fin dis- 
tinct, rather short, inserted before or opposite the vent, which 
is near the middle of the body; caudal fin present, rather small; 
anal fin minute, close behind vent; pectorals developed, short 
and rather broad. Male fishes with an egg pouch along the 
under side of the tail, formed by two cutaneous folds, and 
splitting lengthwise to release the young fishes. Species very 
numerous, inhabiting all warm seas; abounding in bays among 
the seaweeds, and entering the rivers. The females in most 
species are deeper than the males, with more robust trunk, with 
longer snout, and a more distinct ventral keel. 

Subgenus siphostoma 
174 Siphostoma fuscum (Storer) 
Common Pipefish 

Syngnathus fuscus Stoker, Kept. Fish. Mass. 162, 1839, Nahant. 
Syngnatlws peckianus Stoker, op. cit. 163, pi. I, fig. 2, 1839, Holmes' Hole, 

Marthas Vineyard; Syn. Fish. N. A. 238, 1846; Hist. Fish. Mass. 218, 

pi. XXXIII, fig,. 3, 1867. 
Syngnathus fasciatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 319, pi. 54, fig. 174, 1842. 
Syngnathus viridescens De Kay, op. cit. 321, pi. 54, fig. 176, 1842, Hudson 

River, at Sing Sing. 
Sipliostoma fuscum and peckianum, Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 

4, 1879. 
Sipliostvma fuscum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 383, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 134, 1888; 19th Kept. Conmirs. Fish. N. Y. 

244, 1890; 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 101, 1900; Jordan & Eveb- 

mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 770, 1896. 



348 NEW YORK STATE MUSBUM 

The female is much deeper bodied than the male, the depth 
of' body equaling one third of length of head, while in males it 
is only one fourth of this length. Tail very long, slender, and 
tapering, its length three fifths of total length without caudal; 
snout a little longer than rest of head, with a well marked 
median keel above and below, the upper one serrulate; occiput, 
nuchal plates and opercle keeled, the carinations on opercle 
sometimes nearly obsolete; belly slightly convex and with a 
low keel; eye small, five in snout, three in postorbital part of 
head; dorsal fin at a distance from tip of snoiit equal to two 
and two thirds times length of head, the base of the fin one 
fifth longer than head, the longest ray two sevenths as long as 
base of fin, and about one third as long as the head, the fin 
covering 5+5 body rings (4-5+5-4); anal fin of female reduced 
to two or three rays on a very narrow base, its length about 
equal to length of eye; caudal convex when expanded, the mid- 
dle rays longest, as long as the postorbital part of head; pec- 
toral short, on a broad base, its length one fourth the length 
of head. D. 36 to 40; rings 19+37 (or 18 to 20+36 to 40.) 

Color brown above, pale below, everywhere mottled with 
brown; under surface of snout pale, lower part of opercles 
silvery. 

The common pipefish is abundant on our Atlantic coast from 
Cape Ann to Virginia. It is known as the billed eel in Great 
South bay. It is abundant in all parts of -the bay. Though 
this species is not valuable for food or bait, it is an interesting 
aquarium fish and has the same singular breeding habits as 
the sea horse. After the ova of the females are excluded, they 
are received and hatched, and the young are cared for, in the 
marsupium of the male. The species, according to De Kay, 
ascends the Hudson to Sing Sing, where it breeds in slightly 
brackish water. It is to be found in shallow water among 
aquatic plants. The female is conspicuously different from the 
male in its colors and the much greater depth of its body. The 
pipefish is moderately-abundant in summer in eelgrass and sea 
lettuce in Gravesend bay. In 1898 the state museum had it 
from all parts of Great South bay and from Shinnecock, 



FISHDS OF NEW YORK 349 

Peconic, and Mecox bays. Both young and adults were abun- 
dant during the summer. 

Males, females and young were abundant at Ocean City N. J. 
early in August 1887; but the males were more numerous than 
the females. The egg pouches of the males were filled with 
eyed embryos, arranged in four series on each side. A male 
6^ inches long ? taken near Ocean City, August 31, had the pouch 
unsymmetrically filled, the left side containing more than two 
thirds of the whole number of embryos and increasing in carry- 
ing capacity from behind forward. This is the billfish at 
Somers Point. 

In the aquarium the species is fond of shrimp eggs and small 
Gammarus ; but, on account of the difficulty of securing 
proper food, its life in captivity is usually short. In a slowly 
circulating tank, at a temperature of 54° F. several individuals 
were alive and, apparently, in good condition. 

Subfamily hippocampinae 
Genus hippocampus Rafinesque 
The body strongly compressed, the belly gibbous, tapering 
abruptly to a long quadrangular, prehensile tail; head with a 
distinct curved neck, placed nearly at a right angle with the 
direction of the body, surmounted by a compressed occipital 
crest, on the top of which is an angular, star-shaped coronet* 
top and sides of the head with spines. Physiognomy remark- 
ably horselike, like that of a conventional knight at chess. 
Body and tail covered with bony plates, forming rings, those on 
the body each with six spines or tubercles, those of the tail with 
four; pectoral fins present, short and broad; anal minute, usually 
present ; dorsal fin moderate, opposite the vent ; egg pouch in the 
male a sac at the base of the tail, terminating near the vent. 

175 Hippocampus hudsonius DeKay 
Sea Horse; Horsefish 

Hippocampus hudsonius De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 322, pi. 53, fig. 171,. 
1842; Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 239, 1846; Hist. Fish. Mass. 222, pL 
XXXIII, fig. 4, 1867; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 907, 
1883; Bean, 19th Kept. Commrs. Fish. X. Y. 243, 1890; Jordan & Ever- 
mahjs, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Xat. Mus. 777, 1896, pi. CXXI, fig. 327, 1900; 
Meaexs, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 318, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. 
Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 101, 1900. 



350 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Syngnathus hippocampus, Sea horse Pipefish, Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. 

Soc. N. Y. I, 475, 1815. 
Hippocampus heptagonus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 386, 

1883, not of Rafinesque. 

Body short and deep, much compressed, much shorter than 
the prehensile tail, which is three times as long as the head and 
more than three times greatest depth of body; snout as long 
as postorbital part of head, its depth two fifths of its length; 
eye circular, two fifths as long as the snout; interorbital space 
two thirds of diameter of eye; occiput with a five-pointed crest; 
a sharp spine above the gill covers on each side, one above the 
posterior part of the eye and one on each side of the throat; a 
blunt spine between the nostrils; the edges of the bony plates 
of body with the usual blunt spines. There are no cirri on the 
Individual here described, but the species is said to have them 
sometimes. DeKay does not mention cirri in his account of the 
fish. Dorsal fin on 3J rings; base of dorsal one half as long 
as head; longest dorsal ray one half as long as snout. D. 19; 
rings 12+32 to 36. Color light brown or dusky, without spots, 
but sometimes with pale grayish blotches which are sharply 
edged with paler and blackish. DeKay's specimens were light 
brown, with iridescent opercles, the iris yellow. 

The sea horse is now known to occur on the New York and 
New Jersey coasts in moderate numbers during the summer 
months; its range extends from Cape Cod to Charleston. 
Mearns states that, during the summers of 1895 and 1896, a 
number of sea horses were taken by fishermen when netting 
shrimp in the eelgrass bordering the salt marshes near Consook 
island, at low tide. It has sometimes been found abundant in 
the nets in Gravesend bay, but has not occurred in large num- 
bers since 1895. In 1898 only a few individuals were taken in 
Great South bay, and the same scarcity was observed by fisher- 
men at Southampton L. I. 

In captivity it thrives best in balanced tanks, but its life is 
short on account of parasitic attacks, which lead to swelling and 
ankylosis of the jaws. Its food in the aquarium includes 
U n c i o 1 a and shrimp eggs. The sea horse excites popular 
interest on account of its singular shape, its prehensile tail, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 351 

and the fact that the male carries the eggs and protects the 
young in a pouch behind the vent. In this egg sac the young 
are protected till large enough to live independently, going out 
in search of food and returning to their shelter at pleasure. 
Order aoanthopteri 

Spiny-rayed Fishes 
Suborder SALMOFERCAE 

Trout Perches 
Family percopsidae 

Sand Rollers 
Genus percopsis Agassiz 
Body rather slender, pellucid, covered with rather thin scales; 
dorsal fin with two slender spines or simple rays; anal with one; 
scales roughest posteriorly; lateral line developed; preopercle 
entire or very nearly so; vertebrae 17+17=34. Atlantic slope, 
in cold or clear lakes and rivers. 

176 Percopsis guttatus Agassiz 
Trout Perch; Sand Roller 

Percopsis guttatus Agassiz, Lake Superior, 286, pi. I, figs. 1, 2, 1850, Lake 
Superior; Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VI, 207, 1866; Jordan & Gil- 
bert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus, 322, 1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 84, 1893; 
Evermann & Kendall, Kept. U. S. Commr. Fish & Fisheries for 1894, 
599, 1896 from Thompson; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat 
Mus. 784, 1896, pi. CXXI, fig. 329, 1900. 

Salmoperca pellucida Thompson, Appendix Hist. Vermont, 33, 1853, Lake 
Champlain. 

Percopsis Jiammondi Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 151, 1864, Kansas. 

Body rather long and moderately compressed, covered with 
thin ctenoid scales; head scaleless and without barbels; gill 
openings wide; opercles well developed; gill rakers short, tuber- 
cular; skull highly cavernous; mouth small; the margin of the 
upper jaw formed by the short nonprotractile intermaxillaries; 
no supplemental mamillary bone; small villiform teeth on the 
intermaxilliaries and mandible. The tongue is short, not free 
at tip. Pseudobranchiae developed. Six branchiostegals. The 
lateral line is continuous. The first dorsal over middle of body ? 
with nine to 11 developed rays; adipose fin small; the anal and 
ventral eight rayed; caudal long, forked; pectorals narrow, 



352 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

placed high. The stomach is siphonal and with numerous 
pyloric caeca, as in certain Salmonidae. The eggs are moder- 
ately large and are excluded through an oviduct. Air bladder 
present. The greatest hight of the body is about two ninths of 
the total without caudal, the head about three elevenths. The 
maxilla does not reach to the eye. The lower jaw is slightly 
included. Scales in lateral line 47 to 50. 

Color pale olivaceous, or brown, the upper parts with rounded 
dark spots made up of minute dots; a silvery median stripe, 
becoming obsolete in front; peritoneum silvery. 

The trout perch is a common fish in the Great lakes and their 
tributaries. It ranges north to Hudson bay, having been 
obtained at Moose Factory by Walton Hayden, also from Nelson 
river, near Rock Factory, by Dr Robert Bell. It has been 
obtained in the Delaware river by Dr 0. C. Abbott, in the 
Potomac by Prof. Baird, in the Ohio by Drs Jordan, Henshall 
and Bean, and Dr Gill has recorded the species from Kansas. 

Dr Meek obtained no specimens from Cayuga lake, but he 
has no doubt it is found there. The U. S. Fish Commission had 
it from Lake Ontario, Nine Mile point, near Webster N. Y., in 
1893; also from Cape Vincent and Grenadier island. The fish 
is a resident of Lake Champlain, in which it was first discovered 
by Thompsqn, several years before Agassiz secured it in Lake 
Superior. 

The trout perch is too small to be valuable for food, but is 
doubtless an excellent bait. It is one of the most remarkable 
fishes of our fresh waters, combining as it does the characters 
of the salmon and some of the perches. Its name indicates 
this singular relationship. It is voracious, takes the hook 
freely, and spawns in the spring. . 

Suborder xbnarohi 
Family aphredoderidae I 

Pirate Perches 
Genus aphredoderus Le Sueur 
Body oblong, elevated at the base of the dorsal, compressed 
behind, the head thick and depressed, the profile concave; 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 353 

caudal peduncle thick; mouth moderate, somewhat oblique, the 
lower jaw projecting, maxillary reaching to anterior border of 
the eye; teeth in villiform bands on jaws, vomer, palatines, and 
pterygoids; premaxillaries not protractile, maxillaries small, 
without evident supplemental bone; preopercle and preorbital 
with their free edges sharply serrate, opercle with a spine; 
bones of skull somewhat cavernous, sides of the head scaly; 
lower pharyngeals narrow, separate, with villiform teeth; gill 
membranes slightly joined to the isthmus anteriorly; gill rakers 
tuberclelike, dentate; pseudobranchiae obsolete; gills four, a 
small slit behind the fourth; branchiostegals six; scales mod- 
erate, strongly ctenoid, adherent, lateral line imperfect or want- 
ing; vent always anterior, its position varying with age, from 
just behind the ventral fins in the young to below the opercle 
in the adult; dorsal fin single, median, high, with but three or 
four spines, which are rapidly graduated, the first being very 
short; anal small, with two slender spines; ventral fins 
thoracic, with a very short spine, the number of soft rays 
usually seven; caudal fin rounded behind; air bladder simple, 
large, adherent to the walls of the abdomen; vertebrae 14+15; 
pyloric caeca about 12. A single genus, with probably but one 
species, confined to the United States. 

177 Aphredoderus sayanus (Gilliams) 
Pirate Perch 

Aphredoderus sayanus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 35, pi. 21, fig. 62, 1842; 

near Philadelphia Pa. 
Aphredoderus gibbosus Le Sueue, in Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. 

Poiss. IX, 448, pi. 278, 1833. 
Aphredoderus sayanus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 35, pi. 21, flg. 62, 1842; 

Stoker, Syn. Fish. N. A. 47, 1846; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 460, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 145, 1888; Fishes 

Penna. 101, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 786, 

1896, pi. CXXII, fig. 331, 1900; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 

No. 9, 33, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann, Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 101, 1900, 

Patchogue, Long Island. 

The body is moderately stout, oblong, somewhat compressed 
posteriorly. Scales ctenoid. The dorsal fin is continuous, with 
three or four spines and 11 soft rays. The anterior spines much 
the shortest. The anal has two spines and six rays. The mouth 



354 , NEW YORK STATE. MUSEUM 

is rather large for the size of the fish; the lower jaw somewhat 
longer than the upper; the maxilla reaches to front of eye; jaws r 
vomer and palatine bones with villiform bands of teeth; lateral 
line wanting. The depth of the body is two sevenths and length 
of the head one third of the total without caudal. The eye is- 
two ninths as long as the head. The origin of dorsal is much 
in advance of the middle of the total length; the pectorals do- 
not reach as far back as the ventrals; ventrals more than one 
half length of head; the longest anal spine three sevenths of 
length of head; the caudal rounded. Scales in 48 to 55 series. 
The color is variable, sometimes olivaceous, at other times dark 
brown with numerous dark punctulations; a dark bar at the 
base of the caudal followed by a light one. 

The pirate perch ranges from New York westward to Minne- 
sota, and in the Mississippi valley it extends to Louisiana. In 
Pennsylvania the species occurs in Lake Erie, probably in tribu- 
taries of the Ohio and in the lower Delaware. Common in East 
lake at Patchogue and in the head of Swan river. 

The farthest place east from which it is known appears to be 
Suffolk county on Long Island. 1 

This is one of the most interesting little fishes of the fresh 
waters, particularly because the position of the vent varies with 
age. In the young it is behind the ventrals, while in the adult 
it is in the throat. 

The fish grows to a length of 4 inches. Nothing is recorded 
about its habits except that it is very voracious and feeds at 
night. It is common in sluggish streams and ponds in the 
shelter of aquatic plants. In captivity it has never been 
observed to feed; perhaps it takes food, however, at night, but 
it does not thrive in the aquarium. 

Suborder percesoces 

Family atherinidae 

Silversides 

Genus memdia (Bonaparte) J. & G. 

Body elongate, more or less compressed; head oblong, com- 
pressed; belly before ventrals, more or less rounded in section, 

r See Ayres. Enumeration of the Fishes of Brookhaven L. I. etc. Bost. 
Jour. Nat. Hist. 1844, IV. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 355 

not compressed to an edge; mouth small, the gape curved, very 
oblique, usually not reaching the eye; lower jaw short and weak; 
maxillary slipping entirely under preorbital; jaws each with a 
band of simple, usually villiform teeth; premaxillaries very 
freely protractile, their spines comparatively long, nearly equal 
to the eye, extending backward beneath a fold of skin, which 
connects the basis of the maxillaries; posterior part of the pre- 
maxillaries broad; no teeth'on vomer or palatines; both dorsals 
short, the usual radial formula being D. V-l, 8. first dorsal 
usually, but not always in front of anal; soft dorsal and anal 
scaleless; scales rather large, entire. 

178 Menidia gracilis (Gtinther) 
Slender Silversides 

Atherinichthys gracilis Gunthek, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 405, 1861. 
Menidia gracilis Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 797, 1896, 
Specimens from St George's Island, Potomac River. 

The origin of the anterior dorsal fin is opposite to the vent, 
exactly in the middle of the distance between the end of the 
snout and the base of the caudal. The distance between the 
origins of the two dorsal fins is somewhat more than one half 
of that between the origin of the posterior and the caudal. 
The hight of the body is contained nine times in the total length, 
the length of the head five and one half times. The silvery band 
is narrow, and occupies a part of the fourth series of scales. 
Scales with the margin entire. Caudal lobes equal in length; 
caudal somewhat longer than the pectoral, and rather shorter 
than the head. 31 lines long. Probably young. Habitat 
unknown. D. IV, I, 8; A. I, 19. Scales 9-40. (After Gtinther) 

The specimens above referred to, from St George's island, 
lower Potomac river, were obtained by Dr Hugh M. Smith, of 
the U. S. Fish Commission, in the summer of 1890. 

The specimens were compared with the published descriptions 
of M. b e r y 1 1 i n a (Cope) and were found to differ in some 
minor details, the dorsal formula being V, I, 10 instead of V, I, 
11, the anal rays averaging I, 16 or I, 17 instead of I, 18, and the 
silvery stripe apparently taking a different course. 



356 NEW YORK STATE MUSEfUM 

Some large examples (3J inches long) of the Potomac river 
silverside no. 43125, U. S. National Museum, collected, by W. P. 
Seal, apparently in 1890, agree very well with the description 
of beryllina and also with the characters of Dr Smith's 
specimens. It is probable that Cope's name must be associated 
with this fresh- water form, and not the name gracilis of 
Gunther. None of our individuals have four dorsal spines, and 
there is no certainty that Dr Gunther's type came from the 
United States. I have, however, followed Drs Jordan and 
Evermann in their identification. 

The species is said to range from Woods Hole Mass. to Albe- 
marle sound. 

179 Menidia beryllina (Cope) 

Fresh-water SMversides 

GMrostoma beryllinum Cope, Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. 408, 1866, Potomac River, 

at Washington, D. C. 
Menidia berylUna Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 408, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 100, 1893; 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 102, 

1900. 
Menidia gracilis beryllina Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

797, 1896, pi. CXXIV, fig. 338, 1900. 

The body is shorter than usual among the silversides. The 
spinous dorsal is well separated from the soft dorsal, and its 
posterior margin extends almost to the vertical from the first 
anal raj. The ventral reaches to below the first ray of the 
dorsal. The length of the head is contained four and one fourth 
times in the total length without caudal. The eye large, orbit 
one third as long as the head; mouth small; the mandible 
slightly longer than the maxilla and slightly curved; greatest 
depth of body one sixth of total length without caudal. Scales 
in lateral line 36, transverse series 10. The lateral line is repre- 
sented by a pore on the anterior part of the exposed portion 
of each scale, except on the caudal peduncle, where it runs 
through a groove. D. V-1, 11; A. 1, 18; V. I, 5; P. 15. The caudal 
is deeply forked. 

Pale olivaceous in color with a silvery lateral band, on two 
and one half rows of scales, with a lead colored margin. The 
anal base is lead colored; sides of the head silvery. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 357 

This species corresponds in many particulars with M e n i d i a 
peninsulae of Goode & Bean, but in that species the silvery 
streak covers only one and one half rows of scales. The soft 
dorsal in M. peninsulae appears to show considerable vari- 
ation in the number of rays. 

The fresh-water silversides was first described from the 
Potomac river, where it has recently been rediscovered in abun- 
dance, both in fresh and brackish water. It is very common at 
Water Mill L. I. and in fresh-water tributaries of Great South 
bay. Several examples were seined in 1898 in salt water at 
Clam Pond cove. 

In some of the Water Mill specimens the following characters 
were noted: D. V, 1, 10; A. I, 16-17. Scales 8-40. 

Its associates in fresh water at Water Mill were: Fundulus 
diap nanus, Lucania parva, Eupomotis gib- 
bo sus, and Lucius reticulatus. In 1898 it was 
obtained also in Shinnecock bay, Scallop pond (Peconic bay) and 
Mecox bay. The localities in Great South bay were: Swan 
river, south side of Great South bay, Horsefoot creek and Bell- 
port Lifesaving station. 

180 Menidia notata (Mitchill) 
Silversides; Friar; Whitebait 

Atherina notata Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 446, pi. IV, fig. 

6, 1815, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 141, pi. 28, fig. 88, 

1842, New York; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 87, pi. XVI, fig. 1, 1867. 
Atherina viridescens Mitchill, op. cit. 447, 1815, New York. 
CMrostoma notatum Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 21, 1879, and of 

many other authors. 
Atherina menidia De Kay, op. cit. 142, pi. 74, fig. 236, 1842, New York; not 

of Linnaeus. 
Atherinichthys menidia and notata Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 406, 

1861. 
Atherinopsis notatus Baied, Ninth Ann. Kept. Smith, Inst. 338, 1855. 
Menidia notata Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 407, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 146, 1888; 19th Kept. Commrs. Fish. N. Y. 

271, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 800, 1896; 

Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. No. 9, 32, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. 

Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 102, 1900. 

Body elongate, compressed, its greatest depth contained six 
and one third times in total length without caudal, and equaling 



3.58 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

three fourths of length of head; the caudal peduncle long and 
slender, its least depth about one third the length of head ; width 
of body about one half the length of head; head short, pointed, 
its length one fifth of the total without caudal; snout slightly 
shorter than eye, about three and one fourth in length of head; 
margin of upper jaw formed chiefly by the curved premaxillary, 
which is nearly as long as the eye ; eye equal to interorbital space, 
and one third as long as the head; two rows of scales under the 
eye; exposed part of maxilla two fifths as long as the eye; dorsal 
origin nearly midway between tip of snout and base of middle 
caudal rays, base of dorsal about as long as eye, longest dorsal 
spine one third as long as the head, fifth dorsal spine one fifth 
as long as head, interspace between the two dorsals contained 
10J times in total length without caudal, second dorsal base one 
half as long as head, longest dorsal ray equal to eye and 
snout combined, last dorsal ray equal in length to snout; anal 
origin under end of spinous dorsal, also under 25th scale of 
lateral line, anal base three elevenths of total length without 
caudal, corresponding with 15 rows of scales, longest anal ray 
equal to snout and eye combined, last anal ray one fourth as long 
as head. The vent is under the last spine of the dorsal. The 
ventrals are distant from the end of the head a space equal to 
length of head, length of ventral equal to snout and eye com- 
bined, 15 rows of scales between ventral origin and throat. 
Middle caudal rays about one half as long as head, external rays 
five sixths as long as head, the fin deeply forked. The silvery 
band nowhere covering more than the width of one scale, though 
not limited to one row. 

Translucent green; lateral band silvery, mostly on the level 
of the eye, its width less than one half the diameter of eye. 
Scales of upper parts with dark dots along their edges; chin 
speckled. 

The common silversides grows to a length of 6 inches. 

The silversides was first made known by Dr Mitchill under the 
name of small silverside, Atherina notata, and he des- 
cribed the young of the same species as the green-sided silver- 
side, Atherina viride seen s. DrDe Kay states that the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 359 

silversides Was known in the harbor of New York as the 
anchovy and the sand smelt. Friar is a New England name for 
the species; capelin is in use about Boston, and merit fish in the 
vicinity of Watch Hill. Sperling is a name recently applied to 
this species by some fishermen, and we have known persons to 
offer the silversides as whitebait. In Great South bay it is 
known as shiner. 

The silversides is known to occur on the coast from Maine to 
Virginia. It is one of the most abundant of the small fishes in 
our waters, swimming in immense schools made up of fish of 
different sizes, and it forms a considerable part of the food of 
more valuable species, such as the mackerel, bluefish, weakfish 
and flounders, and is very much in demand as a bait for hook 
and line fishing. We seined the silversides in all parts of Great 
South bay, and found it to be one of the most abundant and 
characteristic species. 

The common silversides, or spearing, lives in Gravesend bay 
almost all the year, hibernating in spring holes in winter. It is 
well suited for a captive life and can endure a temperature of 
71J° in the salt water. 

In 1898 the species was found for the state museum at all 
Long Island localities visited, Peconic bay, Mecox bay, the ocean 
at Southampton, and throughout Great South bay. Small 
individuals are sold in the markets as whitebait. In the time of 
De Kay the fish was called anchovy and sand smelt and was 
esteemed a savory food. 20 years before he wrote of the fishes 
of New York, it was caught from the wharves and sold for bait. 

Genus kirtlavdia Jordan & Evermann 

This genus is close to Menidia, but differs from it in hav- 
ing the scales laciniate and the dorsal and anal fins scaly. 
Three species known from the United States and Martinique. 

181 Kirtlandia vagrans (Goode & Bean) 
Rough Silversides 

CMrostoma vagrans Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 148, 1879, Florida. 
Menidia vagrans Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 267, 1882, Bull. 
16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 407, 1883. 



360 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Menidia vagrans laciniata Swain MS in Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 908, 909, 1883, Beaufort, N. C; Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 589, 1883. 
Menidia laciniata Swain in Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

969, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 146, 1888, Great Egg Harbor 

Bay, N. J.; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 795, 1896; 

Bean, 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 102, 1900. 
Kirtlandia vagrans Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 794, 

1896. pi. CXXIV, fig. 336, 1900. 
Kirtlandia laciniata Jordan & Evermann, op. cit. 795, 1896; Bean, 52d Ann. 

Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 102, 1900. 

Hight of the body contained five and one half to six times in 
length without caudal, and six and two thirds times in total 
length, considerably less than length of head and length of pec- 
toral; origin of spinous dorsal fin situated behind a point mid- 
way between origins of ventral and anal fins and opposite the 
middle of the interspace between anal fin and vent; eye longer 
than snout, one third as long as the head, and less than width 
of interorbital space; mouth slightly protractile, lower jaw 
equal to length of eye; length of head contained four and three 
fourths times in total length without caudal, and equal to 
length of pectoral; pectoral reaching only a very little beyond 
origin of ventral when extended; ventral not reaching to vent, 
its length one half the length of head; anal base about as long 
as the head; caudal slightly forked, the lobes equal; vertical 
fins excessively scaly; scales of body large, laciniate, some of 
the exposed edges with 12 points. D. IV to V-I, 7; A. I, 18 to 
19; V. I, 7; P. 14. Scales 7-48 to 50. Lateral silvery stripe 
covering the lower two thirds of the third series of scales and 
the upper one third of the fourth series. 

Light greenish above ; sides and belly silvery; tip of snout and 
of lower jaw yellow mingled with blackish; scales on the back 
with several to many dark spots on the free edges, these usually 
forming streaks; caudal yellow with dark points, its margin 
dusky; dorsal and pectorals dusky; lower fins pale, the anal 
with dark points at its base. 

As here described, the species includes M. laciniata 
(Swain) which has been recorded from New Jersey and North 
Carolina. The only difference discoverable between them is in 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 361 

the number of the dorsal spines, which is generally four in 
laciniata, but sometimes five, as observed in examples 
from Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., no. 45158 U. S. National 
Museum. 

The rough silversides grows to the length of 4 inches; it is 
not important for food, but serves as food for the larger fishes. 
It was found abundant at Somers Point N. J. in August 1887, 
where it had previously been unknown. The largest individual 
taken in Great Egg Harbor bay, 4J inches long, was secured at 
Longport N. J. 

The only example so far known in New York waters was 
caught in Mecox bay, L. I. Aug. 1, 1898. Though the bay was 
seined repeatedly afterward in search of the fish, no other speci- 
mens were seen. The following notes were obtained: D. Y, I, 7; 
A. I, 20; P. 14; V. I, 5. Scales 7-47. 

Genus labidesthes Gope 
This genus differs from Menidia chiefly in the prolongation 
of the jaws, both of which are produced into a short depressed 
beak. The scales are small as in Leuresthes and Basil- 
i c h t h y s , their edges entire. 

182 Labidesthes sicculus (Cope) 
Brook Silversides; Skipjack; Glassfish 

Chirostoma sicculum Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila, 81, 1865, Crosse Isle, 

Detroit River. 
LaUdestJies sicculus Cope, Proc. Am. Phil. Soc. Phila. 40, 1870; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 406, 1883; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. 

IV, 312, 1888, Montezuma, N. Y.; Bean, Fishes Penna. 100, 1898; Bull. 

Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 357, 1897; Chautauqua Lake; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 805, 1896. 

The body is slender and elongate, its depth one sixth or one 
seventh of the total without caudal. Length of head about two 
ninths of total; eye two sevenths of length of head, two thirds of 
length of snout. D. IV, I, 11; A. I, 23. Scales 14-75. Caudal 
deeply forked. 

Color olivaceous, the fish in life translucent, the upper parts 
with small black dots, the silvery lateral band edged above with 
lead color and covering one row and two half rows of scales; 
cheeks silvery. 



362 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

The genus Labidesthes has a very oblique mouth, with 
the upper jaw flat above and concave beneath, the inter- 
inaxillaries forming a rooflike beak. The mandible is convex. 

The brook silversides, or skipjack, is found in streams and 
ponds in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys. It has also been dis- 
covered recently in some of the southern states, from South 
Carolina to Florida. In New York it is recorded from near 
Montezuma, from Chautauqua lake, where it is called silver 
skipjack and glassfish, and from Lake Ontario. Dr Meek says 
it is not found near Ithaca. The U. S, Fish Commission col- 
lectors obtained it at the following places in New York: 

Stony Island July 2 and 3 

Great Sodus bay Aug. 6 

Long pond, Charlotte Aug. 17 

Sandy creek, North Hamlin Aug. 20 

The fish grows to the length of 4 inches and is important only 
as food for larger species. It has been kept in the aquarium, 
but does not endure transportation or captivity. The brook 
silversides is a surface swimmer, and the name skipjack is 
derived from its habit of skipping out of and along the surface 
of the water. It abounds in " clear pools left in summer by 
the fall of the waters in the streams, which has filled them." 

Family mugilidab 

Mullets 

Genus mugil, (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body oblong, somewhat compressed, covered with large 

scales, head large, convex, scaled above and on sides; mouth 

small, subinferior, the lower jaw angulated; jaws with one or 

a few series of short, flexible, ciliiform teeth, no teeth on vomer 

or palatines; eye large, with a large adipose eyelid, which is 

little developed in the young; stomach muscular, like the 

gizzard of a fowl. Species very numerous, living on mud and 

running in great schools along the shores and in brackish lagoons 

of all warm regions. We here exclude from Mugil the old 

world group, Liza (type Mugil capito) similar in habit 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 363 

to M u g i 1 , but lacking the adipose eyelid. (After Jordan & 

Evermann) 

183 Mugil cephalus Linnaeus 

Striped Mullet 

Mugil ceplmlus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 316, 1758, Europe; Jordan 
& Swain, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 263, 1884; Joed an & Evermann, Bull. 
47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 811, 1896, pi. CXXVI, fig. 343, 1900; Bean, 52d 
Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 103, 1900. 

Mugil albula Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 520, 1766, Charleston, S. C; 
Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 403, 1883; Bean, 19th 
Kept. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 272, pi. XXI, fig. 26, 1890. 

Mugil lineatus Mitchtll, Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XI, 96, 
1836, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 144, pi. 15, fig. 42, 1812, 
iNew York; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 39, pi. XVI, fig. 4, 1867. 

Body fusiform, elongate, stout, its greatest width contained 
one and three fourths times in length of head and equal to 
length of ventral fin, greatest depth of bod}' one fourth of total 
length without caudal; snout narrow 7 and soniewiiat pointed, its 
length about one fifth of length of head, its profile scarcely 
more convex than profile of lower jaw T ; inter orbital space little 
convex, its width one half length of head; thickness of upper 
lip scarcely more than one third of length of premaxillary; space 
between the mandibles oblanceolate, its greatest width about 
one fifth of its length; eyes covered by an adipose membrane 
leaving a free space only about as wide as the pupil; length of 
head contained three and one half to four times in total length 
without caudal; eye about two sevenths as long as the head; 
teeth in upper jaw r in a rather broad band, the outer row 7 slightly 
enlarged, teeth in lower jaw similar but much smaller; scales 
smaller than in M. c u r e m a , about 24 or 25 rows of scales 
between tip of snout and origin of spinous dorsal, some scales 
on top of head slightly enlarged, soft dorsal and anal fins almost 
scaleless; origin of spinous dorsal midw T ay between tip of snout 
and base of middle caudal rays, about over the middle of the 
ventral, base of spinous dorsal one third as long as the 
head, first spine longest, one half as long as the head, last 
spine one half as long as the first, interspace between dorsals 
about one half length of head, upper margin of soft dorsal 
deeply concave, base of the fin a little more than one third of 



364 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

length of head, longest ray one half the length of head, last 
ray one fourth the length of head; caudal deeply forked, its 
middle rays one half as long as the head, its ex- 
ternal rays nearly as long as the head; pectoral reaches to the 
11th row of scales from its axil, about as far back as the end 
of the ventral appendage, its length two thirds of length of 
head; ventral origin midway between tip of snout and fifth 
ray of anal, its length four sevenths of length of head, the fin 
extending to below the end of the base of spinous dorsal, the 
tip distant from the anal origin a space about equal to the 
length of the fin. D. IV-I, 8; A. Ill, 8. Scales 14-42. Color, 
dark bluish above; the sides silvery; exposed part of scales, 
specially of eight or 10 upper series, darker than body color, 
causing a striped appearance; belly and lower part of sides 
yellowish; ventral fins yellowish; soft dorsal, anal and ventrals 
dusky; tip and base of pectoral dusky. 

The striped mullet grows to the length of 2 feet, but the 
average size in New York waters is much less. 

The fish is known in Great South bay as mullet and jumping 
mullet; the name mullet is applied to it also in the Gulf of 
Mexico, and is in general use along the east coast; it is known 
in the Chesapeake as mullet or fatback. The latter name is 
probably applied to more than one species. 

The striped mullet is known on our coast from Cape Cod to 
the Gulf of Mexico. The young are much more abundant than 
the adults. In Great South bay we found the species not un- 
common; two examples were taken at the mouth of Swan creek, 
September 12. Several schools were present. We were informed 
that they appear occasionally, and one gentleman of Patchogue 
was very successful in taking this and its allied species with 
hook and line. De Kay states that the striped mullet was first 
observed in New York waters by Dr Mitchill. He found them in 
the markets in the beginning of September. This species is one 
of our choice food. fishes. It is not uncommon in September in 
Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., but we were informed that large 
specimens are never taken in that body of water. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 365 

In 1898 the striped mullet was not abundant in the waters 
seined tifl fall; the great schools were absent till October. 
Several individuals were obtained in Mecox bay August 2 and a 
larger number in Clam Pond cove, Great South bay, August 22. 

The young of this species are abundant in Gravesend bay in 
midsummer; larger ones appear in September and October. 
One winter, some years ago, mullet hibernated in the mud in 
Sheepshead bay and were taken with eel spears. The mullets 
feed and thrive most of the year in captivity, but will not sur- 
vive the intense heat of summer. In the aquarium their food 
includes hard clam and shrimp. 

In 1883 Jordan and Gilbert established a genus Queri- 
m a n a for " little mullets with but two spines in the anal fin 
and with the teeth in the jaws less ciliiform than in Mugil. 
Adipose eyelid wanting; preorbital serrate." The genus was 
based on Myxus harengus of Giinther. Querimana 
is nothing more than the young of Mugil. The only good 
character by which it was distinguished is the presence of two 
anal spines instead of three; in all other respects Queri- 
mana and Mugil agree perfectly. As a matter of fact, all 
young M u g i 1 s pass through a Querimana stage in which 
only two of the three anal spines are developed, the adipose eye- 
lid is rudimentary and the teeth are comparatively stouter than 
in the adult. The third anal spine of Mugil is really a simple 
articulated ray till the fish reaches a length varying from about 

40 mm to 50 mm. The first simple ray of the anal becomes a 
spine by the breaking off at an articulation, the subsequent 
sharpening of the point, and the deposit of hard material in the 
articulations, thus forming a somewhat slender, but perfect, 
spine. 

This fact of development was carefully studied in large series 
of specimens in the tJ. S. National Museum, and it is both inter- 
esting and important from the fish cultural as well as the sys- 
tematic standpoint. In Mugil cephalus one example, 

41 mm long, shows the third anal spine very plainly; it is well 
developed and has a sharp point, but several articulations still 



A 



366 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

remain. Other examples of equal length have the first simple 
anal ray scarcely developed into a spine, ajid in still ethers this 
ray does not take on the character of a spine at all'. Q u e r i - 
mana ha r en g us, the type of the genus, is the young of 
M u g i 1 c u r e m a, and Q. g y r a n s is the immature M u g i I 
trichodon. A, reexamination of the types ofQuerimana 
gyrans shows the presence of 33 rows of scales in some ex- 
amples instead of 29, as originally recorded. 

184 Mugil curema Cuv. & Val. 
White Mullet 

Mugil curema Guvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XI, 87, 1836, 
Brazil; Martinique; Cuba; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 145, 1888; 19th 
Kept. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 272, pi. XXI, fig. 26, 1890; Jordan & Ever- 
mann, Bull. 47, U. S, Nat. Mus. 813, 1896, pi. CXXVI, fig. 344, 1900; 
Bean, 52'd Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 103, 1900'. 

Mugil petrosus Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. 88, 1836, Brazil to New 
York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 147, 1842. 

Mugil brasiliensis Gttnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 431, 1861; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 408, 1883. 

Body shaped like that of the striped mullet, its width equaling 
two thirds of length of head, its greatest depth contained three 
and one half to three and five sixths times in total length with- 
out caudal; least depth of caudal peduncle equal to one half the 
length of head; snout nearly as in M. c e p h a 1 u s, sometimes 
with its outline more declivous, its length one fifth of length of 
head; interorbital space slightly convex, its width nearly one 
half the length of head; thickness of upper lip scarcely one third 
of length of upper jaw, space between the mandibles nearly 
lanceolate, its width one sixth of its length; eyes covered with 
an adipose membrane leaving only a space about as wide as the 
pupil exposed, eye about two sevenths as long as the head; 
head one fourth, or nearly one fourth, of total length without 
caudal; teeth in outer row on premaxilla somewhat enlarged, 
distant; scales rather large, about 22 rows between tip of snout 
and origin of first dorsal; soft dorsal and anal densely scaled, 
origin of spinous dorsal midway between tip of snout and base 
of external caudal rays, directly over the 10th row of scales, 
counting from the axil of the pectoral, the first spine nearly 
two thirds as long as the head, the last spine less than one half 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 367 

as long as the first, interspace between the dorsals equal to 
three fifths of length of head, upper margin of soft dorsal deeply 
concave, base of fin equal to length of postorbital part of head, 
the longest ray three fifths of head, the last ray one fourth the 
length of head; caudal deeply forked, its middle rays one half 
as long as the head, its external rays equal to the head; pectoral 
reaches the eighth row of scales, its length equal to head with- 
out snout; ventral origin midway between tip of snout and third 
ray of anal, its distance from vent equal to its own length, 
which is two thirds of length of head; about 24 rows of scales 
between the head and the anal origin, base of anal three fifths 
as long as the head, longest anal ray equal to length of post- 
orbital part of head, last anal ray two sevenths of length of 
head. D. IV-I, 8; A. Ill, 9. Scales 12-38. 

Color silvery, bluish above; no dusky streaks along the sides 
in life, but faint streaks are evident after preservation in 
spirits; a small dark blotch at base of pectoral; caudal pale, 
yellowish at base, dusky at tip; anal and ventrals yellowish; 
two yellow blotches on side of head. 

The white mullet reaches the length of 1 foot. On the 
Atlantic coast it ranges from Cape Cod to Brazil; in the Pacific 
it is recorded from California to Chile. It is a very important 
food fish. 

The white mullet appears with the striped species, but is less 
abundant in Gravesend bay and is smaller in size. The young- 
were taken in Great South bay in August 1898, and half grown 
individuals were abundant in September and October. Adults 
were scarce. 

Dr Mitchill calls this the summer mullet. He records a speci- 
men that weighed 2-J pounds, the heaviest coming under his 
observation. DeKay found the species in New York markets 
in July and August. 

185 Mugil trichodon Poey 
Whirligig Mullet (young) ; Fardail Mullet 

Mugil trichodon Poey, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. XI, 66, pi. 8, figs. 4 to 8, 
1875, Cuba; Jordan & Evermann; Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 816, 1896. . 

Mugil brwsiliensis Jordan & Swain, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 270, 1884; not 
of Agassiz fide Jordan & Evermann. 



368 NEW YORK STATE MUSEiUM 

Querimana gyrans Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 26, 1884;. Jor- 
dan & E verm ann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 818, 1896. 

Body robust, its greatest depth three elevenths of the total 
length without caudal; head short, its length contained four 
and one fifth times in total to caudal base; snout moderately 
acute, its upper and lower profiles equally oblique; interorbital 
space little convex, its width two fifths of the length of the 
head; upper lip remarkably thick; space between the mandibles 
underneath narrow, oblanceolate, rather pointed behind; an 
adipose membrane covering all but the central part of the eye; 
teeth comparatively large and wide set, about as long as the 
nostril; about 21 rows of scales between origin of spinous dor- 
sal and tip of snout, soft dorsal and anal densely scaled, the 
margin of soft dorsal concave, the second, and longest, ray two 
and three fourths times as long as the seventh; anal similar to 
soft dorsal; the pectoral short, not reaching nearly to vertical 
from front of spinous dorsal; caudal large, deeply forked. D. 
IV-I, 8; A. Ill, 8. Scales 33-11. 

Upper parts dusky, olivaceous, with bluish reflections, lower 
parts silvery; scales without dusky spots; a dark blotch at 
base of pectoral; dorsals and caudal pale, the dorsals with 
minute dark points, caudal with a dark margin; anal and 
ventrals yellowish; pectorals pale, with fine brown punctula- 
tions. 

The fantail mullet ranges from Brazil to the Florida Keys 
and Cuba. The young, which is Querimana gyrans of 
Jordan & Gilbert, migrates northward in summer to Cape Cod; 
it has been recorded from Long Island and the vicinity of 
Woods Hole Mass. 

The species reaches the length of 10 inches. 

Family sphyraenidae 

Barracudas 

Genus sphyraena (Artedi) Bloch & Schn. 

Body elongate, subterete, covered with small cycloid scales; 

head very long, pointed, pikelike, scaly above and on sides; 

mouth horizontal, large; jaws elongate, the lower considerably 

projecting, upper jaw nonprotractile, its border formed by the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 369 

premaxillaries, behind which are the broad maxillaries, large, 
sharp teeth of unequal size on both jaws and on palatines; none 
on the vomer; usually a very strong, sharp canine near the tip 
of the lower jaw; opercular bones without spines or serratures; 
gill openings wide, the gill membranes not united, free from 
the isthmus; gill rakers very short or obsolete; branchioste- 
gals seven; gills four; pseudobranchiae well developed; air 
bladder large, bifurcate anteriorly; many pyloric caeca; lateral 
line well developed, straight; pectoral fins short, placed in or 
below the line of the axis of the body; ventrals I, 5, abdominal, 
in advance of the middle of the body; first dorsal over ventrals, 
of five rather stout spines, second dorsal remote from first 
dorsal, similar to and opposite anal; caudal fin forked; vertebrae 
24; first superior pharyngeal absent, second, third, and fourth 
separate, with teeth, lower pharyngeals separate. 

186 Sphyraena guachancho Cuv. & Val. 
Long Barracuda 
Sphyraena guachancho Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 342, 

1829, Havana; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 824, 

1896. 
Sphyraena guaguancho Go-ode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 146, 1880; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 411, 1883. 
Sphyraena guaguanche Poet, Memorias, II, 166, 1860; Meek & Newland, 

Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 70, 1884. 
Sphyraena giintheri Halt, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. XV, 270, 1875, Colon. 

Body moderately elongate, subcylindric, its greatest depth 
one seventh of the total length without caudal, its width 
two thirds of its depth and one third of length of head; 
the caudal peduncle stout and not elongate, its least depth 
one fourth the length of head. The head is long, nearly 
one third of total without caudal, its width two sevenths 
of its length; the lower jaw projects a space one half as 
long as the iris, the top of head fiat and with a long and 
well marked median groove; the inter orbital space equal to iris; 
the maxilla broadly expanded and abruptly bent downward, its 
width at the posterior end one fourth of its length, its end reach- 
ing about to front of orbit; mandible as long as head without 
postorbital part; preocular ridge three fourths as long as iris; 



370 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

premaxillary teeth small, about 43 developed in the individual 
examined (sometimes 35 to 40), front of the premaxillaries 
with four large canines, the posterior pair slightly larger, 
one third as long as the eye; three large, bladelike fangs 
on each side of palatines; a large compressed fang at 
symphysis of lower jaw, mandible with about 17 moder- 
ately large, compressed teeth on each side; eye one sixth 
of length of head, one half postorbital part of head; dor- 
sal origin at a distance from snout equal to three times length 
of snout, base of spinous dorsal one third length of head from 
tip of upper jaw, second spine longest, nearly one third of 
length of head, fifth spine one half as long as the second, inter- 
space between first and second dorsal equal to snout and eye 
combined, base of second dorsal two sevenths of length of head, 
including lower jaw, longest ray as long as base of fin, last ray 
one fifth of length of head; ventral a little in advance of spinous 
dorsal, its distance from the head equal to length of pectoral, 
its length two sevenths of length of head; anal origin under 
middle of dorsal base, anal base one fourth the length of head, 
longest anal ray equal to ventral, last ray one ha.f the postor- 
bital part of head; middle caudal rays very short, external rays 
as long as snout and eye combined; pectoral as long as postor- 
bital part of head; top of head with minute embedded scales; 
cheeks and opercles scaly, but interopercle and posterior half of 
operele naked. B. VII, D. Y-I, 9; A. I, 8; V. I, 5; P. I, 12. Scales 
15 to 16-112 to 121-13 to 17. 

Color pale green above, soft dorsal yellowish; anal and ventral 
fins chiefly pale but basal part of ventral dusky; pectoral and 
caudal dusky at tip; dark punctulations on spinous dorsal and 
on upper part of body. The specimen described is no. 30015, 
Jamaica, in the U. S. national museum. 

An individual 21f inches long was taken at Woods Hole 
Mass., and is described by Goode and Bean in Proceedings of the 
U. S. National Museum, II, 147, 1880. The species ranges from 
the West Indies to Florida, and occasionally northward in sum- 
mer to Cape Cod. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 371 

187 Sphyraena borealis De Kay 
Northern Barracuda 

Sphyraena borealis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 39, pi. GO, fig. 196, 1842, 

New York; Meek & Newland, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 75, 1884; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 145, 1888; 19th Kept. Gomm. Fish. N. Y. 

271, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 825, 1896. 
Sphyraena spet Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 411, 1883; not 

of Hatjy. 

Body moderately elongate and compressed, its greatest depth 
equal to length of snout, and contained seven and one half times 
in total length without caudal 5 its width equaling two sevenths 
of length of head; caudal -peduncle subterete and tapering, its 
least depth one fifth of length of head. The head is one third of 
total length without caudal, its width one fourth of its length, 
the lower jaw projecting a space equal to pupil, top of head 
slightly convex, a very shallow median groove, the interorbital 
space equal to length of eye; maxilla broadly expanded poste- 
riorly, its greatest width one fourth of its length, its end not 
reaching front of orbit by a space two thirds as long as the eye; 
mandible as long as snout and eye combined; preocular ridge 
two thirds as long as the eye, not very prominent; premaxillary 
teeth small, smaller anteriorly, about 45 in number, front of the 
premaxillaries with three large canines on each side, one of them 
much larger than the others, one third as long as the eye; two 
large fangs on one side of the palatines, three on the other, fol- 
lowed on each side by three smaller teeth; a large, compressed 
fang -at the symphysis of lower jaw, mandible with 10 to 12 
teeth, increasing in size and becoming more widely separated 
posteriorly; eye equal to interorbital width and its length con- 
tained six and one fourth times in length of head; dorsal origin 
at a distance from tip of snout equal to a little more than three 
times length of snout, base of spinous dorsal nearly one third as 
long as the head, second dorsal spine longest, about one third 
length of head, last dorsal spine one half of postorbital part of 
head, interspace between dorsals one half of length of head, base 
of second dorsal equal to longest dorsal ray and two sevenths 
of length of head, last dorsal ray equal to long diameter of eye, 



372 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

and one seventh of length of head; ventral nnder the second spine 
of the dorsal, its distance from the head one half of length 
of head, and much greater than length of pectoral; anal origin 
under fourth ray of second dorsal; the anal base two sevenths 
of length of head, longest anal ray equal to base of anal fin, last 
ray three fourths of diameter of eye, one third of postorbital part 
of head; middle caudal rays very short, external rays one half 
as long as the head; pectoral equal to postorbital part of head; 
top of head with numerous minute, embedded scales and with 
many series of mucous pores'; cheeks and operclesi scaly and with- 
out naked spaces. B. VII; D. V-II, 9; A. Ill, 8; V. I, 5; P. I, 
12. Scales 13-126-13. 

Color greenish above; lateral line yellow; lower parts silvery; 
iris golden; young with dusky blotches on the back and along the 
lateral line. 

This fish seems to have been unknown to the early writers on 
New York fishes, the species not appearing in any publication 
earlier than De Kay's JS'ew York Fawia, in 1842. Dr De Kay calls 
it the northern barracuda, to distinguish it from the southern 
species. 

The young barracuda have been taken from Cape Cod to New 
Jersey, the southern limit being indefinite. Individuals of 1 
foot in length have been rarely seen, but examples measuring 
from 2 to 6 inches are extremely common as far north as Cape 
Cod annually, in the summer. De Kay makes the following state- 
ment about the barracuda: " This is a very active and voracious 
little fish. • A number of them were caught in the harbor of New 
York and placed in a vessel with several other species, In a few 
hours they had devoured them all, and then commenced devour- 
ing each orther. It has not been very commonly observed, owing 
to the difficulty of capturing them; but I have reason to believe 
that they are not very rare." In' Great Egg Harbor bay the 
young were found in abundance. The smallest example seen 
there by myself was 2f inches long. The species was unknown 
to the fishermen. In Great South bay a single example was 
captured at Oak island September 30. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK Slo 

This barracuda is not seen in our markets, but the adults of 
more southerly species are considered excellent food fishes. At 
Key West and on Cozumel island, and in the West Indies, the 
barracuda is highly prized. 

Several young barracuda were caught in Gravesend bay in 
September 1896. The species is not common in that bay. An 
individual 5J inches long was seined at Sandy Hook, Oct. 8, 1897. 
The fish does not live long in captivity. 

Suborder rhegnopteri 
Family polynemidae 

Threadfins 
Genus polydactylus Lac^pede 
Anal fin not much longer than soft dorsal, of about 13 or 14 
rays; vomer with teeth; preoperculum serrate; free filaments 
of pectorals mostly shorter than body; teeth in villiform bands 
on both jaws, vomer, palatines, and pterj-goids; preopercle 
sharply serrated on its posterior margin, its angle with a scaly 
flap; scales rather small, finely ctenoid; first dorsal with seven 
or eight feeble, rather high spines, the first and last short, soft 
dorsal and anal fins about equaling each other; pectoral fila- 
ments three to nine; pyloric caeca in great number. Species 
numerous, in warm seas. 

188 Polydactylus octonemus (Girard) 
Threadfin 

Polynemus octonemus Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pliila. 167,1858, Brazos; San- 
tiago; Galveston; young; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 320, 1860; 
Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 128, 1880; Jordan & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 413, 1883. 

Polydactylus octonemus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 830, 
1896, pi. CXXVIII, fig. 350, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 
IX, 358, 1897. 

TricJiidion octofiUs Gild, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 280, 1861, New York; 
adult. 

TricJiidion octonemus Gill, op. cit. 280, 1861. 

Polynemus octofilis Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 590, 1882; Bull. 
16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 413, 1883. 

Body compressed, moderately elongate, its greatest depth 
from one third to two sevenths of the total length without 
caudal, its thickness equal to two fifths of length of head; 



374 NEW YORK STATE MUSEfUM 

caudal peduncle short and stout, its least depth one half the 
length of head; head short, a little more than one fourth of 
total length without caudal, its width nearly one half its length; 
snout obtusely conical, its length varying with age from one 
seventh to one fifth of length of head; eye equal to interorbital 
space and its length contained from four and one third to five 
and one half times in length of head; mouth inferior, slightly 
oblique, wide, the lower jaw included, maxilla broadly expanded 
behind, its end reaching far behind eye, length of upper jaw 
nearly one half of length of head; hind margin of preopercle 
with numerous rather coarse spines. Distance of spinous dor- 
sal from tip of snout equals one third of total length without 
caudal, base of spinous dorsal one half as long as the head, 
second spine longest one fifth of total without caudal, last dor- 
sal spine two ninths as long as the second, interspace between 
dorsals equal to postorbital part of head, base of second dorsal 
contained one and three fourth times in length of head, longest 
dorsal ra}^ equal to postorbital part of head, last dorsal ray one 
third as long as the head. Anal origin is under the fifth or 
sixth ray of the second dorsal, the base of the fin equals the 
second spine of the dorsal in length; the longest ray is one half 
as long as the head; the last ray is as long as the snout and eye 
combined. The ventral origin is under the middle of the spinous 
dorsal ; the length of the fin is about one half the length of head* 
The pectoral reaches beyond the end of the spinous dorsal, but 
not to the vent, its length equal to length of head without the 
snout; the pectoral filaments are eight in number on each side, 
the longest reaching past the vent. Caudal deeply forked, its 
external rays longer than the head. D. VIII-I, 12; A. Ill, 13; 
V. I, 5; P. I, 15, 8; B. VII. Gill rakers, 21 below the angle, the 
longest nearly equal to eye; scales 6-70-10. Color light oliva- 
ceous, with dark punctulations; belly whitish; pectoral black in 
adult, pale in young. 

The threadfin is found on the east coast of the United States 
from New York to Texas, occurring northward in summer only. 

Sep. 24, 1896, three specimens were obtained by John B. De 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 375 

Nyse in Gravesend bay and sent to the aqnarium dead, as they 
would not endure captivity. The fish agrees in coloration and 
in every other respect with P. octofilis Gill, and is be- 
lieved to be the adult form of P. octonemus Girard. This 
is probably the first record of its occurrence in New York waters 
for more than 30 years. 

MEASUREMENTS 

Inches 

Length, including caudal 8% 

Length to end of middle caudal rays 7V 2 

Length to origin of middle caudal rays 6% 

Greatest depth of body • 2 

Least depth of caudal peduncle xs 

Length of head 1% 

Length of snout Vs 

Diameter of eye is 

Length of upper jaw % 

Length of mandible % 

Length of longest pectoral filament 2% 

Length of upper and lower caudal lobes 2*4 

Length of pectoral 1% 

Length of longest (third) dorsal spine 1^4 

Length of second dorsal ray 1% 

Length of ventral U 

Length of longest anal ray 1 

Length of anal base Its 

Length of base of first dorsal % 

Length of base of second dorsal , iy 8 

The longest pectoral filament reaches to below the inter- 
space between the two dorsals and slightly past the vent. The 
diameter of the eye equals the length of the snout and one fifth 
the length of the head. 

Group AMMODYTOIDEI 
Family ammodytidae 
Sand Lances 
Genus ammodytes (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body elongate, lanceolate, the skin with many transverse 
folds running obliquely downward and backward, the small 
cycloid scales mostly placed in cross series between them; lat- 
eral line concurrent with the back; a fold of the skin along each 
side of the belly; vomer not armed with a bicuspid tooth; color 
silvery; vertebrae 62 or 63; one pyloric caecum. Carnivorous 



376 NEW YORK STATE MUSE1UM 

fishes inhabiting sandy shores in cold regions, living in large 
schools, burying themselves in the sand near the tide mark. 
Valued as bait and useful as food for salmon and other larger 
fishes. 

189 Ammodytes americanus De Kay 

Sand Lance j Sand Eel 

Ammodytes americanus De Kay, N. Y\ Fauna, Fishes, 317, pi. 52, fig. 167, 
1842, Queens County, New York, and Stratford, Conn.; Stoker, Hist. 
Fish. Mass. 216, pi. XXXIII, fig. 2, 1867; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex 
Inst. XI, 20, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 414, 
1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 833, 1896, pi. 
CXXIX, fig. 351, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 350, 1897. 

Ammodytes vittatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 318, pi. 60, fig. 197, 1842, 
New York, apparently based upon a mutilated specimen, fide Jordan 
& Evermann. 

Argyrotaenia vittata Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 415, 1888. 

Body long, slender, subterete, its greatest depth one tenth to 
one twelfth of total length without caudal, its width two fifths 
of length of head; head moderately long, with acutely pointed 
snout, length of head one fifth of total without caudal; snout 
nearly one third as long as the head; eye small, one sixth as long 
as the head, and equallo width of interorbital space; lower jaw 
somewhat projecting, the mandible nearly one half as long as 
the head, the maxilla reaching back to front of orbit; dorsal 
origin in advance of tip of pectoral; length of pectoral about 
one half the length of head; length of anal base nearly one third 
of total without caudal; dorsal and anal rays about equal in 
length and not much longer than the eye; intermaxillary pro- 
tractile; vomer not armed with a bicuspid toothlike prominence, 
I). 55 to 63; A. 27 to 31. Lateral folds 127 to 141. 

The specimens examined are from 4J- .to 7 inches long, from 
Nantucket, Woods Hole and Bass Eocks, Mass. 

Colors as given by Br Storer: of a dirty greenish brown on 
the back, the sides and abdomen silvery, the top of the head 
flesh-colored, the preopercles silvery, operculum cupreous and 
silvery, pupils black, iris silvery. 

The sand lance occurs on sandy shores from Newfoundland to 
Cape Hatteras. In certain harbors of Cape Cod and Marthas 
Vineyard it often schools in myriads, so that the entire bottom 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 377 

is covered from 1 to 2 inches deep and appears like an immense 
sheet of silver. These little fish are a very important source of 
food for the cod, salmon and other valuable fishes and are 
excellent for bait. 

De Kay found the young frequently washed on shore after 
heavy northerly gales. 

The sand lance appears in Gravesend bay in July, but is more 
plentiful in winter. The fish buries itself in sand and some- 
times, when alarmed, will leap 4 inches above the sand. In 
captivity it swims continually and soon dies. It will not thrive 
for want of sand and proper food. 

Group BERYCOIDE1 
Family mullidab 
Surmullets 
Genus mulias Linnaeus 
Yilliform teeth in the lower jaw and on the vomer and pala- 
tines, none in the upper jaw, the bone forming a hook over the 
maxillary well developed; opercle without spines; interorbital 
space flat and wide. Otherwise as in Upeneus, the head 
rather shorter. One species known. 

190 Mullus auratus Jordan & Gilbert 
Red Mullet; Goat fish 

Mullus harbatus auratus Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. II. S. Nat. Mus. 280. 1882, 
Pensaoola, Florida; Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 981, 1883. 

Mullus auratus Jordan. Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 39, 1884; Bean, Bull. Am. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 359, 1897; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 856, 1896, pi. CXXXII, fig. 360, 1900. 

Body moderately deep and compressed, its width equal to 
postorbital length of head, its greatest depth nearly equal to 
length of head and contained three and one half times in total 
length without caudal; least depth of caudal peduncle equal 
to postorbital part of head; head two sevenths of total length 
without caudal; anterior profile rather steep; intermaxilla 
protractile; mouth small, terminal, the upper jaw one third 
as long as the head and about equal to length of mandible; eye 
placed high, interorbital space nearly flat, its width greater 



378 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

than long diameter of the eye, and about two sevenths of length 
of head, eye about three elevenths of length of head; barbels 
one fifth of total length to end of scales, and equal to length 
of pectoral. The spinous dorsal begins over the fifth scale of 
the lateral line, its base one half as long as the head, its longest 
spine two thirds as long as the head, its last spine scarcely 
as long as the eye, interspace between dorsals equal to one 
third the length of head, base of second dorsal one half as long 
as the head, longest ray slightly more than one half the length 
of head, last ray as long as the eye. The ventral origin is under 
the axil of the pectoral, also under the third scale of the lateral 
line; the length of the ventral is one fifth of total length to 
end of scales; the ventral fin reaches a little farther back than 
the pectoral, to a point below the twelfth scale of the lateral 
line. The anal origin is under about the third ray of second 
dorsal; the base is as long as postorbital part of head; the long- 
est ray one half, and the last ray two sevenths of length of 
head. Caudal deeply forked, the middle rays, from end o'f 
scales, two fifths as long as the outer rays, which are three 
fourths as long as the head. Pectoral fin three fourths as long 
as the head, reaching to below the 12th scale of the lateral 
line, and end of spinous dorsal base. D. VII-I, 8; A. II, 6; 
V. I. 5; P. 16. Scales 3J-35-6. 

Color scarlet; side with two yellow longitudinal stripes; snout 
and caudal fin scarlet, the latter with about five narrow dusky 
bands after preservation in spirits; first dorsal fin with an 
orange band at base and a yellow band higher up, the rest of 
the fin pale; second dorsal fin with about three narrow bands of 
scarlet; anal and ventrals pale; pectoral reddish; iris violet or 
golden; sides of head silvery, iridescent. 

The red mullet ranges from Cape Cod to Florida; it is found 
at Woods Hole Mass., occasionally in summer; on the red snap- 
per banks off Pensacola Fla. it is moderately abundant. The 
fish grows to the length of 8 inches. It has no economic value, 
but furnishes food for the red snapper, groupers and other food 
fishes. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 379 

Three individuals of M u 1 1 u s were captured in a seine at 
Sandy Hook N. J. Oct. 8, 1897, and brought alive to the New 
York aquarium, where they are now (Nov. 30, 1897) in good con- 
dition and feed freely on shrimp. As the fish are living, it is 
uncertain whether or not they are M. a u r a t u s ; but they 
agree in the main with the description of that species. Their 
endurance of water at a temperature of 50° F. is unexpected. 
Fishermen at Sandy Hook reported that large numbers were 
seen there in September and October 1897. 

Recent examination of one of the specimens above referred to 
{No. 48796, U. S. National Museum) shows its entire agreement 
with the type of Mullus auratus. 
Group SCOMBROIDEI 
Family scombridae 
Mcvclcerels 
Genus scomber (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body fusiform, rather elongate, somewhat compressed; caudal 
peduncle slender, without median keel, but with two small keels 
on each side; mouth wide, with a single row of rather small, 
slender teeth in each jaw and on the vomer and palatines; 
maxillary slipping under the broad preorbital, a fleshy lobe on 
each side of lower jaw near its junction with maxillary; scales 
very small, not forming a corselet; first dorsal of nine to 12 
feeble spines, separated from the second by an interspace 
greater than the base of the fin, second dorsal small, followed 
by five to nine detached finlets; anal similar to second dorsal, 
with similar finlets; pectorals and ventrals small, the former 
placed high, on the level of the eyes; caudal fin small, widely 
forked; pyloric appendages exceedingly numerous; air bladder 
small or wanting; vertebrae normally formed, 14+17=31; gill 
rakers long and slender. 

Subgenus scomber 
191 Scomber scombrus Linnaeus 
Common Mackerel 
Scomber scombrus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 297, 1758, Atlantic; Goode & 
Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 14,1879; Joedan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. 
Xat. Mus. 424, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
865, 1896, pi. CXXXIII, fig. 363, 1900. 



;*80 NEW YORK STATE MUSE1UM 

Scomber vernal is Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 423, 1815, 
Sandy Hook, New Jersey; De Kay, name omitted from chapter head- 
ing, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 101, pi. 12, fig. 34, 1842, New York coast; 
Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass, 54, pi. XI, fig. 2, 1867. | 

Scomber scorn &er. Linnaeus, Syst Nat. ed. XII, 492, 1766; Gunther, Cat. 
Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 357, 1860. 

Body moderately long, subterete, fusiform, the snout acute 
and the caudal peduncle much tapering posteriorly, the great- 
est hight two ninths of total length without the caudal, the least 
depth of caudal peduncle equal to the short diameter of the 
eye, the width of body one half the length of head; head conical, 
pointed, its length one fourth of total without caudal, its width 
one half its length, the width of the interorbital space one half 
postorbital length of head; snout rather long, one third as long 
as the head; lower jaw slightly projecting, the mandible extend- 
ing behind orbit, its length more than one half the length of 
head, the maxilla reaching to below front of pupil. The eye is 
one fifth as long as the head. The spinous dorsal originates over 
the middle of the pectoral; its base is a little longer than the 
mandible; the second, and longest, spine is two fifths as long as 
the head; the last spine is very short, about one third of length 
of eye; the interspace between the dorsals is about equal to 
depth of body; the second dorsal base is nearly opposite anal 
base, slightly in advance, its length two fifths of length of the 
head ; the longest ray is one fourth as long as the head, the last 
ray two thirds as long as the eye; the second dorsal is followed 
by five finlets, each as long as the last ray. The anal origin is 
under the fourth or fifth ray of the second dorsal; the base of 
the fin is one third as long as the head; the longest ray is one 
half of postorbital length of head; the last ray is two thirds 
as long as the eye; the fin is followed by five finlets which are 
immediately opposite the dorsal finlets and of about the same 
size. The middle caudal rays, from end of scales, are equal to 
one half the greatest depth of body; the external rays are nearly 
twice as long as the middle rays. The ventral origin is very 
slightly in advance of the origin of spinous dorsal, its distance 
from tip of snout equaling the distance from origin of second 
dorsal to root of caudal fin; the length of the ventral equals three 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 381 

eighths of length of head. The pectoral is one half as long as 
the head; the fin reaches to below the sixth spine of the dorsal. 
No air bladder. D. XI-I, 11-V; A. I, 11-V; V. I, 5; P. I, 16. 

Color dark blue, or greenish blue, above, the upper parts with 
30 or more wavy transverse bands of a darker hue, these extend- 
ing below the lateral line and nearly to the median line of the 
body; beneath the ends of these lines and slightly separated 
from them is a narrow, longitudinal, dark streak running almost 
the entire distance from the pectoral to the caudal; top of the 
head very dark; a dark blotch in the axil of the pectoral; gill 
covers and jaws silvery; sides white with cupreous reflections; 
belly white. 

The mackerel is one of the best known food fishes of the north 
Atlantic, ranging from Norway to Spain in Europe and from 
Labrador to Cape Hatteras in North America. It reaches the 
length of 18 inches. The fish is migratory and frequently dis- 
appears for a short or long period of time from its accustomed 
localities. On the New York coast the mackerel appears in 
May and June in great schools, but the number varies greatly in 
different years. 

Two young, 3| to 5| inches long, were taken in Gravesend bay, 
L. I., May 23, 1896, in John B. De Nyse's shad fyke. No more 
were seen, and these were the first for the year. They come 
about the time of the appearance of anchovy and weakfish. 
They are often seen swimming at the surface of the bay in small 
bunches of 18 or 20. occasionally 100, in the latter part of May 
or early in June. They are always split up into small bunches, 
probably by the attacks of weakfish and other predaceous spe- 
cies which are present at the time. Flukes attack them also in 
shallow water. 

Subgenus paeimatophoris Jordan & Gilbert 

192 Scomber colias Gmelin 

Chul) Mackerel; Thimbleeye Mackeral 

Scomber colias Gmelin, L. Syst. Nat. 1329, 1788, Sardinia; De Kay, N. Y. 
Fauna. Fishes, 104, pi. 11, fig. 33, 1842; Jordan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, 
IT. S. Nat. Mus. 866, 1896, pi. CXXXIII, fig. 364, 19O0; Bean. Bull. Am. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 360, 1897. 



382 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Scomber pneumatophorus De la Roche, Ann. Mus. Nat Hist. XIII, 315, 334, 

1809, Balearic Islands. 
Scomber grex Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 422, 1815; Storer, 

Syn. Fish. N. A. 90, 1846. 
Scomber dekayi Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 52, pi. XI, fig. 1, 1867; Goode & 

Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 15, 1879. 

Body fusiform, subterete, moderately elongate, its greatest 
depth two ninths of total length to base of caudal fin; least 
depth of caudal peduncle two thirds of the short diameter of 
the eye, its width more than one half the length of head and 
equal to snout and eye combined; head conical, pointed, com- 
pressed, its length contained three and three fourths times in 
total to base of caudal, its width equal to one half its length, 
width of interorbital space three fifths of length of postorbital 
part of head; snout long, pointed, two sevenths as long as the 
head; lower jaw slightly projecting, the mandible extending to 
below hind edge of pupil, its length less than one half the 
length of head; the maxilla reaching nearly to front of pupil. 
The eye is large, covered in front and behind by an adipose mem- 
brane, its length three elevenths of length of head or two thirds 
of length of postorbital part of head. The spinous dorsal origi- 
nates over the middle of the pectoral, a little behind the inser- 
tion of the ventral; the base is as long as the head without the 
snout and is much longer than the mandible; the second spine 
longest, one half as long as the head, the last spine minute, 
about one fifth as long as the eye. The interspace between the 
dorsals is only two thirds of depth of body. The second dorsal 
base is chiefly opposite anal base, but more in advance than in 
Scomber scombrus, its length equal to postorbital part 
of head; the longest ray is one fourth as long as the head, the 
last ray one half as long as the eye; the second dorsal is fol- 
lowed by five finlets, which increase in size posteriorly, the last 
one larger than last ray of dorsal, and two thirds as long as the 
eye. The anal origin is under the fifth or sixth ray of the 
second dorsal; the base of the fin is as long as the postorbital 
part of the head ; the longest ray equals the longest of the dor- 
sal; the last ray is one half as long as the eye; the fin is fol- 
lowed bv five finlets of the same size as the dorsal finlets and 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



383 



placed nearly opposite to them. The middle caudal rays are 
very short; the external rays are as long as the snout and eye 
combined. The ventral origin is equally distant from tip of 
snout and vent; the fin is two fifths as long as the head. The 
pectoral is one half as long as the head and reaches to below 
the fifth spine of the first dorsal. Air bladder present. D. IX 
to X-I, 11 to 12-V; A. I-I, ll-V or VI; V. I, 5; P. I, 19. Scales 
nearly 200. 

Colors essentially the same as in Scomber scombrus, 
the wavy transverse bands about 30 in number; sides mottled 
with small dusky blotches below the median line; about 20 black 
specks on base of preopercle, usually arranged in more than one 
series; belly and sides silvery; a black blotch in axil of pectoral. 

The chub mackerel is found in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, 
north to England and Maine and to San Francisco; very com- 
mon in the Mediterranean and in southern California; some- 
times abundant on our eastern coast and frequently absent for 
long periods. It reaches the length of 14 inches and is an im- 
portant food fish. 

July 25, 1887, the schooner Peter Cooper caught 6000 thimble- 
eye mackerel off Manasquan N. J. About 50,000 mackerel were 
taken by the menhaden steamer, A. Morris, near Ocean City, July 
19, 1887. Some of these were preserved in brine by W. B. Steel- 
man, and I found them to be S. c o 1 i a s. 

The thimbleeyes usually arrive in August. In 1886 they were 
often caught. This species was not found in large numbers in 
Gravesend bay in 1897, but in 1896 it abounded in all the little 
creeks, and in some instances the fish could be dipped up by the 
boat load with scoop nets. The fish reached 10 inches in 
length before the end of the summer. 

Genus avxis Cuvier 
Body oblong, plump, mostly naked posteriorly, anteriorly cov- 
ered with small scales, those of the pectoral region enlarged, 
forming a corselet; snout very short, conical, scarcely com- 
pressed; mouth rather small, the jaws equal; teeth very small, 
mostly in a single series, on the jaws only; tail very slender, 



384 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

depressed, with a rather large keel on each side; first dorsal 
short, separated from the second by a considerable interspace, 
second dorsal and anal small, each with seven or eight finlets; 
pectorals and ventrals small; no air bladder; branchiostegals 
seven; pyloric caeca dendritical; gill rakers very long and slen- 
der, numerous; vertebrae 39 in number, peculiarly modified, 
essentially as in Gymnosarda. 

193 Auxis thazard (Lacepede) 
Frigate Mackerel 

Scomber thazard Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 9, 1802, Ooast of New 
Guinea. 

Auxis vulgaris Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 139, 1831, 
Mediterranean. 

Auxis rochei Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 369, 1860; Jordan & Gil- 
bert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 425, 1883. 

Auxis thazard Jordan & Gilbert, op. eit. 911, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 867, 1896, pi. CXXXIII, fig. 365, 1900. 

Body stout, subterete, fusiform, tapering to a very low caudal 
peduncle, the greatest depth one fourth of total length without 
caudal, the width nearly two thirds of the depth ; the least depth 
of caudal peduncle about two fifths of length of iris; head short, 
conical, pointed, its length one fourth of the total to end of mid- 
dle caudal rays, its width two thirds of its length, the width of 
the interorbital space one half postorbital length of head; snout 
short, as long as the eye, one fifth as long as the head; the lower 
jaw not projecting when the mouth is closed, the maxilla reach- 
ing to below middle of pupil, the mandible two fifths as long as 
the head and reaching nearly to below hind margin of orbit. The 
eye is as long as the snout and one fifth as long as the head. 
The spinous dorsal originates a little behind the origin of 
pectoral and ventral, at a distance from tip of snout nearly equal 
to one third of total length to caudal base; its base is nearly one 
half as long as the head; the second spine longest, two fifths as 
long as the head, the last spine minute, about one sixth as long 
as the eye. The interspace between the dorsals equals the 
length of the head without the snout. The second dorsal is in 
advance of the anal; its base is about one fourth as long as the 
head; its longest ray equals snout, and its last ray is less than 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 385 

one half the snout; the fin is followed by eight finlets, which de- 
crease in size posteriorly. The anal origin is below the inter- 
space between the end of the second dorsal and its first finlet; the 
anal base is as long as the second dorsal base; its first ray is as 
long as the snout, its last ray is one half the short diameter of 
the eye; it is followed by seven finlets, decreasing in size poster- 
iorly. The middle caudal rays, from end of keel, are one fourth 
as long as the outer rays, which are one half as long as the head; 
the caudal lobes form a very obtuse angle with the caudal 
peduncle. The ventral origin is directly under the root of the 
pectoral; the fin is as long as the snout and eye combined, the 
ventral sheath about as long as the fin. The pectoral is falcate, 
many-rayed, its length four ninths of length of head; the fin 
reaches to below the last spine of the first dorsal. D. X-12- 
VIII; A. 13-VII; V. I, 5; P. 22; B. VII. 

Color dark blue above with reticulated markings on the back, 
chiefly in the second half of the length and all above the lateral 
line; sides, lower parts and head silvery; ventral dark. 

The frigate mackerel is found in all warm seas and ranges 

northward occasionally to Cape Cod; it is a rare visitor in our 

waters, but sometimes appears in immense schools. It has little 

value as food. It reaches the length of 16 inches. The species 

was unknown on our shores till 1880, when it arrived in almost 

countless numbers. Its food is the same as that of the common 

mackerel. 

Genus gymnosarda Gill 

This genus according to Lutken differs from Thunnus l)in 
the absence of teeth on vomer; 2) by the complete absence of 
scales outside of the corselet (for i^n Thunnus of the same 
size the skin is covered with small scales; and the limits of the 
corselet in the tunny and albicore are obscure, so that it can not 
properly be said that they have distinct corselets), and 3) by an 
important osteologic character, namely the peculiar develop- 
ment, in the form of a network or trellis, of a portion of the 
abdominal part of the backbone, between the vertebrae proper 
and the hemapophyses. Vertebrae 38. Species of smaller size 
than the tunnies, also pelagic, and of little value as food. 



386 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

194 Gymnosarda pelaihys (Linnaeus) 
Oceanic Bonito 

Scomber pelomis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 297, 1758, tropical seas. 
Thymus pelamys Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 113, 1831. 
Orcynus pelamys Poet, Syn. Pise. Cubens. 362, 1868; Goode & Bean, Pre-c. 

U. S. Nat. Mus, I, 24, 1878; Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 15, 1879. 
Euthynnus pelamys Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 430, 1883. 
Gymnosarda pelomis Dresslar & Fesler, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 436, 1889; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 868, 1896. 

Body oblong, abruptly tapering at both ends, stout, short, its. 
greatest hight one fourth of total length to end of middle caudal 
rays, its width a little more than one half the length of head, 
equal to postorbital part of head; least hight of caudal peduncle 
one half the length of eye; keel one fourth as long as the head; 
head rather long, somewhat compressed, acute in front, conical, 
its length two sevenths of the total without caudal, its width 
over the opercles one half its length ; snout not long, acute at tip, 
somewhat compressed, its length two sevenths of length of head; 
the mandible heavy and prominent, scarcely projecting; the 
maxilla with rounded extremity extends to below middle of 
pupil; the mandible extends to below hind margin of eye, its 
length nearly one half the length of head. The eye is obliquely 
oblong, its length about one fifth of length of head. The spinous 
dorsal orginates immediately over the origins of the pectoral 
and ventral; the base of the fin is four fifths as long as the head; 
the first and longest spine one half as long as the head, the last 
spine one fourth as long as the snout. The interspace between 
the dorsals equals two thirds of length of snout. The second 
dorsal is equidistant from the upper angle of the gill opening and 
the base of the caudal fin; the base of the fin is as long as the 
snout and equal to base of anal; the longest ray is a very little 
longer than the base of the fin, the last ray is one fourth as long 
as the snout; the fin is followed by eight finlets, the largest in 
front, two fifths as long as the snout. The middle caudal rays, 
measured from keel, one third as long as the outer rays, which 
are nearly two thirds as long as the head (equal to postorbital 
part of head). The anal origin is nearly under the end of the 
second dorsal; the base of the fin is two sevenths as long as the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 387 

head; the longest ray is as long as the base of the fin, the last 
ray one third of length of snout; the fin is followed by seven 
finlets, which are rather broader than those of the dorsal. The 
ventral origin is directly under the origin of spinous dorsal; the 
length of the fin is two fifths of length of head; the ventral 
sheath is bifurcate and less than one half as long as the fin. The 
pectoral is scarcely falcate, its length one half the length of 
head, the fin reaching to below the 11th spine of the dorsal. 
D. XIV to XV, II, 12-VIII; A. II, 12- VII; P. 28; V. I, 5. 

The corselet is very prominent. Its contour is defined by lines 
at the edge of the branchial cleft, about midway between the axil 
of the pectoral and the median line of the belly, extending below, 
beyond, and around the extremity of the pectoral (which, when 
normally placed, touches with its tip the outer margin of the 
corselet), then extending beyond its tip for a distance nearly 
equal to its length, around up into the lateral line, down which 
a narrow tract of scales continues to its extremity, though nar- 
rowed to a single row after passing its curve; passing the lateral 
line, the contour of the corselet curves forward and inward, then, 
ascending to a point distant from the median line of the back 
about the diameter of the orbit, it follows backward in a direc- 
tion parallel to this line, to a point opposite the posterior extrem- 
ity of the second dorsal, where it curves upward to the median 
line of the body, and completes its circuit. 

When viewed from above, the rows of scales appear to be 
arranged concentrically about the origin of the first dorsal fin. 
The scales are largest along the edges of the pectoral arch and 
the dorsal fin, decreasing rapidly in size' as they recede from 
these regions. There are about 30 rows between the dorsal and 
the upper margin of the pectoral, normally placed. 

The upper parts deep bluish in life; the belly and flanks below 
lateral line, the opercles and throat pearly opalescent white; 
the lower part of the pectoral arch and tracts at the base of the 
ventrals and anal, as well as those parts of the opercles where 
the bone is close to the outer skin, chalky white. The corselet 
is bronzed brown in the alcoholic specimen. There are four dis- 



388 NEW YORK STATE MUSE1UM 

tinct bluish lines on the sides, which are nearly parallel with the 
lateral line, and constitute the most prominent specific character. 
The first of these begins directly under the tip of the pectoral, 
the second at the margin of the corselet, at a point in the line 
from the upper to the lower axillary angles of the pectoral. The 
third and fourth are rather indistinct anteriorly, but very dis- 
tinct in the posterior half of the body, and are about as far dis- 
tant from each other as are the first two, the interval between 
the two pairs being slightly greater than that between the mem- 
bers of each pair, and equal to the diameter of the orbit. The 
first or uppermost line is nearly straight, the others, following 
the lower contour of the body, curve upward over the anal fin, 
and all four become lost in the darker color of the caudal 
peduncle. 

If the Japanese fish, which has been referred to this species, 
be really the oceanic bonito, we must add the following notes on 
colors; three shorter dark stripes on the middle of the body, be- 
tween the lateral line and the uppermost of the four long stripes; 
dark blotches on the membrane connecting the dorsal spines, be- 
ginning between the sixth and seventh spines and continuing to 
the end of the fin. It is not at all certain, in my estimation, 
that the Japanese form is the same as ours, since it appears to 
have a more compressed body, the spinous dorsal more poster- 
iorly placed, and the color differences above mentioned. 

The oceanic bonito is said to inhabit the warmer parts of the 
Atlantic and Indian oceans and the seas of China and Japan. 
It is a rare visitor in our waters and has no importance for food. 
Persons who have eaten it say the flesh is dry and, sometimes, 
disagreeable. It feeds on flying fish, skipjacks, small cuttle- 
fish, mollusks, and marine plants. The maximum length re- 
corded is 30 inches. 

195 Gymnosarda alleterata (Rafinesque) 
Little Tunny 

Scomber alleteratus Rafinesque, Caratteri Ale. Gen. 46, 1810, Palermo. 
Thynnus thunnina Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 104, 

1831, Mediterranean; Gunther, Cat Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 364, 1860. 
Thynnus brasiliensis Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. 110, Mediterranean. 
Thynnus brevipinnis Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. 112, Mediterranean. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 389 

Orcynus alliteratus Gill, Rept. U. S. Fish. Comm. 802, 1873; Goode & Bean, 

Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 15, 1879. 
Eutliynnus alliteratus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 430, 

1883. 
Thynnus affinis Gunther, op. cit. II, 363, 1860. 
Thynnus oremrostris Gunther, op. cit. II, 365, 1860. 
■Gymnosarda alleterata Jordan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 869, 

1896, pi. CXXXIV, fig. 366, 1900. 

Body fusiform, much tapered at both ends, moderately com- 
pressed, its greatest hight one fourth of total length without 
caudal, its width one half the length of the head; least depth of 
caudal peduncle one third of length of snout; keel well devel- 
oped, three eighths as long as the head; head moderate, pointed 
in front, its length one fourth of the total to end of middle 
caudal rays, its width over the opercles equal to eye and snout 
combined; snout not long, acute at tip, its length two sevenths 
of length of head; the interorbital space equal to snout; the 
mandible heavy, not projecting, the maxilla expanded poster- 
iorly, extending to below middle of pupil ; the mandible extends 
to below hind margin of orbit, its length nearly one half the 
length of head. The eye is one fifth as long as the head, and 
two thirds of width of interorbital space. The spinous dorsal 
originates directly above the insertion of the ventral and 
slightly behind that of the pectoral; the base of the fin is nearly 
as long as the head; the longest spine is one half as long as 
the head, the last spine about one half as long as the eye; 
the interspace between the dorsals extremely short. The sec- 
ond dorsal is preceded by a short, stiff spine, which is about one 
third as long as the eye; the base of second dorsal is one fourth 
as long as the head; the longest ray is two ninths as long as 
the head, the last ray one half as long as the eye; the fin is 
followed by eight finlets, of which the fourth is longest, two 
thirds as long as the eye. The middle caudal rays, measured 
from the root of the fin, are two fifths as long as the outer rays, 
which are two thirds as long as the head. The anal origin is 
under the first detached finlet; the base of the fin is as long 
as the snout; the longest ray two ninths as long as the head, 
the last ray two thirds as long as the eye; the fin is followed 
by seven finlets, which are similar to the dorsal finlets. The 



390 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

ventral origin is at a distance from tip of snout equal to one 
third of total length to caudal base; the fin is two fifths as: 
long as the head, extending as far back as the pectoral, to a 
point below the ninth spine of the dorsal. The ventral sheath 
is little bifurcate at its tip, its length little more than one half 
the length of ventral fin. The pectoral is somewhat falcate, 
its length equal to postorbital part of head. D. XV-I, 12-VI11 ;. 
A. ii, 12- VII; V. I, 5; P. I, 26. 

Color bluish above, sides and lower parts silvery; several 
wavy, more or less interrupted, dark streaks above lateral line, 
beginning under the middle of the spinous dorsal; five or six 
roundish brown spots, about as large as the pupil, between the 
pectoral and ventral fins; tip of spinous dorsal and inner sur- 
face of ventral dusky. 

The little tunny is common in the Mediterranean and the West 
Indies and ranges northward occasionally to Cape Cod. It is 
said to reach the length of 4 feet, but no individuals of that size 
are recorded from our waters. Prof. S. F. Baird collected an 
example about 2 feet long at Woods Hole Mass. in 1871. A spe- 
cimen 13 inches long was taken at Pensacola Fla. by Silas. 
Stearns in 1878. Though eaten in Mediterranean countries, the 
flesh is not much esteemed. 

Genus thunnus South 

Body oblong, robust, with very slender caudal peduncle; head 
conical; mouth wide, with one series of small, conical teeth in 
the jaws and bands of minute villiform or sandlike teeth on 
the vomer and palatines; scales present, those of the pectoral 
region forming an obscure corselet; first dorsal of 12 to 15 
spines, which grow gradually shorter backward, the interval 
between last spine and second dorsal slight; second dorsal and 
anal short and rather high, each with eight to 10 finlets; ven- 
trals moderate, pectorals moderate, inserted rather below the 
level of the eye; vertebrae normal, 39 to 41 in number, the lower 
foramina very small. Open seas; the single species widely dis- 
tributed. Size very large. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 391 

196 Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus) 
Tunny; Horse Mackerel 

Scomber thynnus Einnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 297, 1758, Europe. 

Thynnns vulgaris Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 58, pi. 

210, 1831, European Seas; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 105, pi. 10, 

fig. 28, 1842, after Stoker. 
Thynnus brachypterus Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. 98, pi. 211, 1831, 

Mediterranean. 
Thynnus secundidorsalis Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 65, pi. XII, fig. 4, 1867. 
Orcynus thynnus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 15, 1879; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 429, 1883. 
Thunnus thynnus Jordan & Etermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 870, 1896. 

Body oblong, tapering greatly at both ends, very robust, its 
greatest depth nearly one fourth of the total length to end of 
middle caudal rays, its greatest width one sixth of the same 
length. The least depth of caudal peduncle equals the length 
of the eye. The head is two sevenths of total length without 
the caudal; the snout is rather short, acute, its length contained 
three and one third times in length of head; the maxilla does 
not quite reach to below front of eye; eye small, two fifths as 
long as the snout, one seventh as long as the head. The spinous 
dorsal originates above the insertion of the pectoral; the fin 
is very long, reaching almost to second dorsal, high in front and 
rapidly and regularly diminishing in hight posteriorly, its first 
spine longest, four ninths as long as the head, the last spine 
about as long as the pupil. The second dorsal base is as long 
as the anal base and two fifths as long as the head; the fin is 
deeply concave and very low behind, its longest ray one half as 
long as the head; the fin is followed by nine Unlets which are 
about two thirds as long as the eye. The anal origin is under 
the end of the second dorsal; the base of the fin is two fifths as 
long as the head; the longest ray is nearly one half as long as 
the head; the fin is deeply concave like the second dorsal, and is 
followed by eight finlets of about the same size as the dorsal 
unlets. The caudal fin is very deeply forked, almost lunate in 
shape, the middle rays, measured from caudal base, contained 
two and one third times in the outer; the caudal keel is enor- 
mously developed, its length equal to length of snout. The 
ventral origin is under the second spine of the dorsal; the fin is 



392 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

one half as long as the head; when extended it reaches to below 
the 11th spine of the dorsal. The pectoral reaches to below the 
12th spine; it is falcate, its length equal to length of head with- 
out the snout. The corselet is not so well defined as in some 
other related species, because the entire body is scaly. The 
lateral line curves downward from a point under the origin of 
the second dorsal. D. XIV, i, 13-IX; A. i, 12-VIII; V. I, 5. 

Color dark blue above ; grayish below with silvery spots ; pupil 
black, iris golden with greenish reflections ; rays of spinous dor- 
sal dusky, the connecting membrane nearly black, second dor- 
sal reddish brown; pectorals silvery gray; ventrals black above r 
white beneath; dorsal and anal finlets bright yellow, dark at 
base and on anterior edge; gill covers silvery gray. 

The tunny is the largest fish of the mackerel family, reaching 
a length of 10 feet or more. It is pelagic, but comes to all 
warm coasts, northward to England, Newfoundland, San Fran- 
cisco, and Japan. In our waters it appears usually in summer 
and is often taken in rather large numbers off Block Island, and 
on Cape Cod and Cape Ann. On account of its enormous size 
and great strength, it is often destructive to the fishermen's 
fixed nets. 

Dr Storer says it comes into Massachusetts bay about the 
middle of June and remains till early in October. It was not 
uncommon to observe 50 or more in a day at Provincetown. It 
feeds on menhaden, mackerel, whiting, dogfish and other small 
fishes. The usual implement of capture at first" was the har- 
poon, but, now that its flesh has become valuable for canning 
and when marketed fresh, it is taken in pound nets and by line 
fishing. The fish arrives on the coast in poor condition and 
without value ; but becomes very fat during the summer months r 
and is then utilized for the oil, which is obtained from the 
head and belly by boiling, and for its flesh, which is favorably 
regarded, either fresh, salted or preserved in cans. 

The tunny is said to spawn in June, and the recently hatched 
young, according to Yarrell, weigh 1-J ounces, growing to 4 
ounces by August and 30 ounces in October. Adults often* 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 393 

weigh 1000 pounds. The killer whale is the most dreaded enemy 
of the tunny. 

In southern California this fish is highly prized by anglers 
who are fond of big game and hard play. In the Bay of Chaleur 
and off Caraquette, in the Gulf of St Lawrence region, 100 
tunny were captured by means of baited lines, and the fishing 
was considered exciting because the fish pulled with such vio- 
lence as to endanger the lives of the fishermen by dragging them 
overboard. This kind of exercise might be had near Eockport 
Mass. or off the New Jersey coast annually in summer. 

Genus sarda Cuvier 
Body rather elongate, covered with small scales, those of the 
pectoral region forming a corselet; caudal peduncle slender, 
strongly keeled; head large, pointed, compressed; mouth large; 
teeth in the jaws rather strong, conical, slightly compressed, 
similar teeth on the palatines, but none on the vomer; maxillary 
not concealed by preorbital; gill rakers long and strong; first 
dorsal long and rather low, of 18 to 22 rather stout spines, 
which are gradually shortened behind; interval between the 
last spine and the second dorsal short; second dorsal small, fol- 
lowed by 8-9 finlets; anal fin similar, usually with one less fin- 
let; paired fins small; pectorals placed below the level of the 
pupil; no air bladder; pyloric caeca very numerous, treelike; 
vertebrae normally formed, 50 to 54 in number. Fishes of 
rather large size, of metallic coloration. (After Jordan and 
Evermann) 

197 Sarda sarda (Bloch) 

Bonito 

Scomber sarda Bloch, Ichth. X, 35, pi. 334, 1793, Europe. 

Pelamijs sarda De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 106, pi. 9, rig. 27, 1842; Gtjn- 

thee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II. 367, 1860; Stoeee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 63, 

pi. XI, fig. 5, 1867. 
Sarda pelamys Goode & Beax, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 15, 1879. 
Sarda mediterranea Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 427, 1883. 
Sarda sarda Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 138, 1888; Deesslae & Feslee, 

iBull. U. S. F. C. VII, 440, pi. VIII, 1889; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 

47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 872, 1896; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 360, 

1897, Gravesend Bay. 



394 NEW YORK STATE MUSEHJM 

Body fusiform, much tapered at both ends, moderately elon- 
gate, robust, its greatest night nearly equal to length of head 
and nearly one fourth of total length without caudal, its great- 
est width two thirds of its hight; least depth of caudal peduncle 
one third of length of snout; head four fifteenths to one fourth of 
total length to caudal base, its width over the opercles equal 
to length of its postorbital part; interorbital space strongly 
convex, one third of length of head, greater than snout, twice 
diameter of orbit; snout rather long, one third as long as the 
head, acute, the jaws equal in front; maxilla much expanded 
behind, reaching slightly behind orbit, the upper jaw one half 
the length of head; mandible equal to width of body, reaching 
considerably behind eye; eye small, vertically oblong, its verti- 
cal diameter about one half the length of snout. The spinous 
dorsal begins directly over the insertion of pectoral; the fin is 
very long, high in front, tapering rapidly and almost regularly 
to the last spine, which is only about one sixth as long as the 
second, and longest, this being two fifths as long as the head. 
The interspace between the dorsals is one half as long as the 
eye. The second dorsal base is as long as the snout and eye 
combined; the longest ray is four times as long as the last ray 
and one third as long as the head; the upper margin of the fin is 
deeply concave; the fin is followed by eight small finlets, the 
longest as long as the eye. The anal origin is under the last 
dorsal ray or the first dorsal finlet ; the base of the fin is as 
long as the snout; the longest ray is nearly five times as long 
as the last ray and three eighths as long as the head; the fin is 
followed lay seven or eight finlets (usually seven) the long- 
est equal to length of eye; the anal is deeply concave, 
like the second dorsal. The caudal fin is crescentic, the 
external rays three times as long as the middle rays and 
the lobes narrow and tapering, their width at base about 
one third of their length and one fourth the length of 
head. The ventral origin is under the second or third spine 
of the dorsal; the fin is three tenths as long as the head; its 
sheath is small and raylike, less than one half as long as the 
fin. The pectoral is falcate, broad at base, short, reaching to 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 395 

t>elow the eleventh spine of the dorsal, its length one half the 
length of head. The lateral line very wavy but with no great 
curves ; the caudal keel nearly as long as the eye and snout com- 
bined. The corselet is developed only as a narrow stripe ex- 
tending from the nape to a point a little behind the tip of pec- 
toral, its width about one fifth of its length, and about equal to 
eye. D. XX to XXI, 13 toU-VIII; A. 14-VI or VII; V. I, 5; 
P. I, 24. 

Color steel blue above, the sides silvery, the abdomen and 
under surface of head silvery white; from 10 to 20 dark bluish, 
narrow bands obliquely downward and forward from the back, 
some of them almost reaching the belly; iris yellowish; first dor- 
sal fin sometimes pale, sometimes nearly black; pectoral dark 
above, light beneath. 

The bonito inhabits the Atlantic ocean on both coasts and is 
common in the Mediterranean. On our coast it ranges habitu- 
ally north to Cape Ann. It reaches the length of 30 inches and 
the weight of 10 or 12 pounds. Though not generally esteemed 
as a food fish, it meets with a steadj^ sale either fresh or salted, 
like the mackerel. The fish is believed to live in the open sea, 
coming to the shores only to feed or to deposit its eggs. It is 
predaceous and active, feeding insatiably on mackerel and men- 
haden; it takes trolling bait as freely as the bluefish, to which 
it is not inferior in quality of flesh. 

The fish is generally scarce in Gravesend bay. Five were 
taken in one day in a pound net in October 1897, an unusual 
number for that species. The bonito will not live in captivity. 

Genus sco3iberomorus Lacepede 
Body elongate, wholly covered with rudimentary scales, which 
do not form a distinct corselet; head pointed, comparatively 
short and small; mouth wide, the strong teeth in the jaws more 
or less compressed or knife-shaped; villiform or sandlike teeth 
on the vomer and palatines; maxillary not concealed by preor- 
bital; gill rakers few; caudal peduncle with a single keel; spin- 
ous dorsal low, of 14 to 18 feeble spines; soft dorsal and anal 
short, similar, somewhat elevated and falcate, each followed by 



396 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

seven to 10 finlets; ventrals small; pectorals moderate, near the 
level of the eye; air bladder present; vertebrae normally 
formed, 45 in number. Fishes of the high seas; graceful in form 
and beautiful in color; among the best of food fishes. (After 
Jordan and Evermann) 

198 Scomberomorus maculatus (Mitchill) 
Spanish Mackerel 

Scomber maculatus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 426, pi. VI, 

fig. 8, 1815, New York. 
Cybium maculatum De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 108, pi. 73, fig. 232, 1842 r 

New York; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 372, 1860; Storer, 

Hist. Fish. Mass. 68, pi. XIII, fig. 1, 1867; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex 

Inst. XI, 15, 1879. 
Scomberomorus maculatus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 426, 

1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 138, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm.-Fish. 

N. Y. 254, pi. VII, fig. 9, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 874, 1896, pi. CXXXIV, fig. 368, 1900. 

Body elongate, much compressed, fusiform, its greatest depth 
from one fourth to two ninths of total length without caudal, 
its width two fifths of its depth and equal to postorbital part of 
head; least depth of caudal peduncle one half the postorbital 
part of head; head rather short, compressed, the lower jaw 
heavy, but not projecting, length of head one fifth of total with- 
out caudal; maxilla somewhat expanded posteriorly, extending 
to hind margin of orbit, the upper jaw equal to snout and eye 
combined ; 16 strong conical teeth on each side in upper jaw, and 
13 in the lower, vomer with a broad, short patch of minute, villi- 
form teeth, palatine teeth similar, in club-shaped patches; man- 
dible equal to head without snout; snout one third as long as 
head, very acute; posterior nostril twice as large as anterior; 
eye one fifth as long as head ; interorbital space very convex, its 
width nearly equal to snout; gill rakers short, 2 above and 
11 below the angle of the first arch. The spinous dorsal origi- 
nates over' the insertion of the pectoral and considerably in ad- 
vance of the ventral origin ; the base of the fin is long, as long 
as the head plus the length of the snout; the second and longest 
spine is three sevenths as long as the head and four times as 
long as the last spine, the fin decreasing in hight regularly from 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 397 

the second to the last spine. The interspace between the dor- 
sals is about one half the length of the eye. The second dorsal 
base is three fourths as long as the head; the longest ray nearly 
four times as long as the last ray, and one half as long as the 
head; the fin is followed by eight Unlets, none of which are 
longer than the eye. The anal originates under the middle of 
the soft dorsal; its base is two thirds as long as the head, its 
longest ray three and one half times as long as its last ray, and 
one half as long as the head; the fin, like the second dorsal, i& 
deeply concave; it is followed by eight unlets equal in size to the- 
dorsal finlets. The caudal is very deeply forked, its outer rays 
as long as the head. The ventral originates under the fourth 
spine of the dorsal, its length three elevenths of length of head, 
the fin reaching to below the ninth spine of dorsal; there is no 
ventral covering, the inner rays of the two sides being slightly 
united at the base. The pectoral is broad, falcate, extending to 
below the 10th dorsal spine, its length equal to head without 
snout. D. XVII to XVII1-16 to 18-TIII to IX; A. ii, 16 to 17; 
V. I, 5; P. i, 21. Lateral line strongly developed, with a moder- 
ate curve under the second dorsal, its course from there to 
caudal somewhat wavy. 

Color silvery; upper parts bluish; sides with numerous oblong 
spots of a dull orange, none of them more than one third as long 
as the snout, these spots fully as numerous above the lateral 
line as below it; the membrane connecting the first eight spines 
of the dorsal black, the rest of the fin white; soft dorsal with a 
yellowish tinge, its margin dark; anal and ventral white; pec- 
toral black inside, yellowish with dark borders outside and 
covered with dusky points; caudal dusky except at base. 

The Spanish mackerel inhabits the Atlantic and Pacific coasts 
of Xorth America, on our coast ranging north to Maine and 
south to Brazil. It is one of the choicest of our food fishes and 
grows to the length of 3 feet and the weight of 10 pounds. The 
species spawns on the Long Island coast in August or earlier. 
The eggs are very small, about -£g inch in diameter, and they 
float in salt water. The rate of growth is unknown, as the 



398 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

young are seldom or never seen by persons who know the fish. 
The Spanish mackerel is caught chiefly in pound nets. 

It is recorded that the species has been obtained off the coast 
of Maine by Capt. Atwood. Mitchill describes the species with- 
out making' any remark on its abundance or scarcity, and states 
that it comes in July. In 1854 the species had very little im- 
portance in the New York market, but at the present time it is 
one of the most highly prized fishes and is obtained in large 
numbers. Spanish mackerel have been sparingly caught by 
trolling off Fire island inlet. We did not obtain the species in 
Great South bay, but Erastus Gordon of Patchogue informed 
us that it is obtained in moderate numbers. In 1884 the fish 
was not plentiful and the average price was about fl each. 
They appear in New York waters in July and usually leave in 
September. The spawning season at Long Island begins late 
in August and continues about a month. The Spanish mackerel 
congregate in enormous schools. Mr Earll records the appear- 
ance of a school off Long Island which was estimated to contain 
several million individuals. The fish are taken principally in 
traps ; a few are caught by trolling, but this is an unsatisfactory 
method of capture. 

199 Scomberomorus regalis (Bloch) 
Cero 

Scomber regalis Bloch, Ichth. pi. 333, 1795, Martinique. 
Cybium regale Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 372, 1860. 
Scomberomorus regalis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 426, 

1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 875, 1896, pi. 

CXXXV, fig. 369, 1900. 

Very similar in shape and general appearance to S. m a c u - 
latus; the greatest depth of body one fifth of total length 
without caudal, the greatest width two fifths of length of head; 
the least depth of caudal peduncle one half the length of 
snout; head longer than in S. maculatus, two ninths of 
total without caudal; the snout long and very acute, three 
eighths as long as the head; the inter orbital space scarcely con- 
vex, its width two sevenths of length of head; jaws equal in 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 399 

front, maxilla not reaching to hind margin of orbit, the upper 
jaw equal to snout and eye combined and much more than one 
half the length of head; the mandible equal to head without 
snout, reaching to below hind margin of orbit; 15 or 16 large, 
compressed, conical' teeth in each side of upper jaw, and about 
the same number of similar teeth in lower; eve large, more than 
one fifth of length of head, nearly equal to interorbital space; 
gill rakers 3+12, the longest one half as long as the eye. The 
spinous dorsal originates a little farther back than the pec- 
toral and nearly over the insertion of the ventral; the base of 
the fin equals its distance from tip of snout; the second spine 
is the longest, one half as long as snout and eye combined; the 
fin is shaped as in $. m a c u 1 a t u s , the last spine being very" 
short. The interspace between the dorsals is about one third 
the diameter of the eye. The second dorsal base is one half 
as long as the head and equal to its longest ray; the last ray 
is one half as long as the eye; the fin is followed by eight or 
nine finlets; its upper margin, like that of the anal, is deeply 
convex. The anal origin is under the middle of the second dor- 
sal; the longest ray a little exceeds longest of dorsal; the last 
ray one half the length of eye; the fin is followed by eight fin- 
lets. The caudal keel is one third as long as the head; the 
caudal fin is very deeply forked, the outer rays as long as the 
head and the lobes narrow at the base. The ventral origin is 
midway between tip of snout and vent; the fin is two thirds 
as long as the snout and extends to below the seventh spine 
of the dorsal. The pectoral is broad at the base, falcate, its 
length equal to snout and eye combined, the fin .extending to 
below the 10th spine of the dorsal. D. XVII-i, 15- VIII; A. ii, 
14-VIII; V. I. 5; P. i, 24. Lateral line curved downward below 
the second dorsal and the second half of it more or less undulat- 
ing; pectoral scaly. 

Color silvery; a narrow longitudinal stripe of brownish or 
bronze beginning behind the pectoral and running to base of 
caudal; numerous oblong brownish spots mostly below this 
stripe, none of them more than one half the diameter of eye; 



400 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

upper anterior part of spinous dorsal black, the rest of the fin 

white. 

The spotted cero is found from Cape Cod to Brazil, but is not 

common northward; it is abundant in the West Indies. The 

species grows to the length of 5 feet and the weight of 20 pounds; 

it is a fish of the same good qualities as the Spanish mackerel 

and is readily caught by trolling. 

200 Scomberomorus cavalla (Cuvier) 

King fish; Sierra 

Cybium cavalla Ctjvier, KSgne Anim., ed. 2, II, 200, 1829, Brazil. 

Cybium caballa Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 187, 1831, 

Caribbean Sea; Storer, Syn. Fish. N. A. 93, 1846; Gunther, Cat. Fish. 

Brit. Mus. II, 373, 1860. 
Scomberomorus caballa Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 427, 

1883. 
Scomberomorus cavalla Dresslar & Fesler, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 444, pi. 

XI, 1889; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 875, 1896. 

Body more slender and elongate than in the other species of 
the genus, its greatest depth one sixth to one fifth of total 
length without caudal; rather less compressed than in S. 
regale; the least depth of caudal peduncle one half the length 
of snout; head one fifth of total length without caudal; snout 
acute, two fifths as long as head; maxilla long, reaching beyond 
hind margin of orbit; mandible a little longer than snout and 
eye combined; eye small, one sixth of length of head, the inter- 
orbital space convex; teeth triangular, much compressed, about 
25 to 30 in each side of each jaw; gill rakers very short, eight 
below the angle on first arch. The spinous dorsal is inserted 
directly above the origin of the pectoral and slightly behind the 
ventral; its base equals one half the distance from tip of snout 
to origin of second dorsal; the second, and longest, spine is 
three times as long as the last spine and two sevenths as long 
as the head. The interspace between the two dorsals equals 
diameter of eye. The second dorsal originates midway between 
tip of snout and end of middle caudal rays; the base is as long 
as the snout and eye combined and is about equal to anal base; 
the longest ray is six times the length of last ray and equal to 
snout; the upper margin of the fin is deeply concave; the fin is 



FISHES OF NEW YOPvK 401 

followed by nine small finlets, all nearly equal in size, about 
two thirds as long as the eye. The caudal fin is crescentic, the 
width of the lobe at base two fifths of its length, the external 
rays two and one half times as long as the middle rays, meas- 
ured from root of fin, and one third of distance from tip of 
•snout to origin of second dorsal. The anal origin is under the 
middle of the second dorsal; the longest anal ray is four times 
length of last ray and equal to snout; the upper margin is 
deeply concave; the fin is followed by eight finlets, the longest 
about one half the diameter of eye. The ventral is a little in 
advance of pectoral; its length one half the length of mandible, 
the fin reaching to below the sixth spine of dorsal. The pec- 
toral is falcate, median, its length equal to snout and eye com- 
bined, and reaches to below the ninth spine of dorsal. A patch 
of elongate scales on head behind and below the eye and at the 
upper angle of the gill opening; several much enlarged scales 
behind the head, in front of and above the base of pectoral. 
The lateral line makes a deep downward curve under the end of 
the spinous dorsal, and its second half is sinuous. A well devel- 
oped caudal keel. D. XI Y to XT, i, 15-VIII to IX; A. 11, 
lo-VHl; V. I, 5; P. i, 23. 

Color grayish silvery, the sides sometimes with dark spots, or 
yellowish in the young; spinous dorsal blackish above, or with- 
out dark blotch. 

The kingfish, or cavalla, is a very important and valuable food 
fish of the tropical Atlantic, coming in immense numbers to 
the Florida Keys, the West Indies, and north to Charleston, 
occasionally, in summer, to Cape Cod. Southward it extends 
to Africa and Brazil, frequenting the open seas. It grows to 
the length of 6 feet and the weight of 100 pounds. In habits 
it resembles the Spanish mackerel; it is caught by trolling, and 
at Key West it is so abundant that two men in a small sailboat 
sometimes catch more than 100 in a day. The flesh is excellent, 
either fresh or smoked. 



402 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Family trichiuridae 

Cutlas Fishes 
Genus trichiurus Linnaeus 
Bodj' extremely elongate, bandlike, the tail very slender,, 
tapering to a fine point, without caudal fin; head long, with a 
very wide mouth; the jaws armed with unequal and very strong 
teeth; upper jaw with about four long, strongly compressed 
barbed teeth; teeth on the palatines, none on the vomer; lower- 
jaw longest; preorbital covering cleft of mouth posteriorly; dor- 
sal fin single, low, occupying the whole of the back, the spines 
not distinguishable from the soft rays; anal very long, its base 
more than half the length of the body, composed of detached 
spines which are very short, nearly hidden in the skin, the anter- 
ior directed backward, the posterior forward; ventral fins want- 
ing; pectorals small; no scales; lateral line decurved, concurrent 
with the belly; vertebrae 39+120, ribs excessively frail. Color 
silvery. Voracious fishes of the high seas, reaching a consider- 
able size. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

201 Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus 
Scabbard Fish; Hairtail 

Trichiurus lepturus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 246, 1758, America; 

Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 237, 1831; De Kay, 

N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 109, pi. 12, fig. 35, 1842, Jamaica, Sandy Hook; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 346, 1860; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 

16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 422, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. 

Nat. Mus. 889, 1896, pi. CXXXVII, fig. 375, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. 

Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 360, 1897. 
Trichiurus argenteus Shaw, Gen. Zool. IV, 90, pi. 12, 1803,, after Linnaeus; 

Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 364, 1815. 

Body greatly compressed, elongate, tapering to a very fine 
point, the greatest hight little more than one half of length of 
head, which is contained from seven and one half to eight and 
one half times in total; mouth wide, oblique; the lower jaw 
strongly projecting, the maxilla mostly concealed under the pre- 
orbital, reaching to below front of pupil, the mandible one half 
as long as the head and extending to a point behind the orbit; 
inter orbital space flat, its width equal to diameter of eye; snout 
long and acute, three tenths as long as the head; a single large 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 403 

nasal opening near the front of the orbit; eye round, one sixth 
as long as the head; gill rakers spiny, few, about seven above the 
angle of the first arch, those below the arch mostly small or 
obsolete, the longest above angle about one third of 
diameter of eye; operculum produced into a long, thin flap, acute 
behind. The dorsal fin begins at a distance from tip of snout 
equal to two thirds of length of head; its origin is not far behind 
the eye; the longest ray is about three eighths as long as the 
head. The pectoral is partly covered by the opercular flap; its 
length equals length of snout. The vent is at a distance from 
tip of snout which equals two and three fourths times length of 
head. The anal fin, consisting of low, almost concealed, de- 
tached spines, begins close behind the vent; its base is five and 
one half times as long as the head. The lateral line drops rapidly 
downward from the upper angle of the gill opening to a point 
below the median line. Four long and strong fanglike teeth in 
the front of the upper jaw and one or two fangs on the front of 
the mandible, from seven to 10 sharp teeth in each side of each 
jaw; small teeth on the palatines, none on the vomer. D. 135; 
A. 109. The individual described was taken at Point Pleasant 
N. J. It is number 49224, U. S. National Museum. Color silvery. 

The scabbard fish frequents warm seas and ranges north to 
Cape Cod and Lower California; it is very abundant in the West 
Indies. The fish is a voracious inhabitant of the high seas, and 
reaches the length of 5 feet. It is highly esteemed for food in 
Jamaica and at Pensacola; in Jamaica it forms the object of a 
very important hook and line fishery. . 

The scabbard fish is rarely seen in Gravesend bay. A young 
individual was obtained from John B. De Nyse's pound in August 
1897. It had been captured by another fish while in the pound; 
but was rescued in good condition. 

Family istiophoridae 

Sailfishes 
Genus istiophorus Lacepede 
Body slender, much compressed, covered with elongate scales; 
numerous small teeth on the jaws and palatines; ventral fins 



404 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

present, of two or three rays; dorsal fin extremely high, continu- 
ous, as in the young of Tetrapturus and X i p h i a s, the 
rays very numerous, none being aborted, the hight of the first 
much greater than that of body; anal fin divided; air bladder 
sacculate; intestine short, nearly straight; sword usually shorter 
and less flattened than in X i p h i a s , the edge more rounded, 
the lower jaw more developed. The skin is also rougher. Large 
fishes of the warm seas; the number of species uncertain, prob- 
ably several. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

202 Istiophorus nigricans (Lacepede) 
Sail fish; Spike fish 

Makaira nigricans Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 688, 1803, Rochelle. 
Histiophoriis americanus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 

303, 1831, Brazil. 
Istiophorus nigricans Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 891, 

1896, pi. OXXXVII, fig. 376, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII. 97, 

1898; Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. IV, 415, 1882. 

Body compressed, highest in front, elongate, the greatest hight 
one seventh of the total length from tip of upper jaw to end of 
middle caudal rays; least hight of caudal peduncle one half of 
postorbital length of head; the upper jaw projecting beyond the 
lower a distance more than equal to greatest hight of body; the 
profile of the head descending very steeply from the origin of the 
dorsal to the eye; the lower jaw extending in front of the eye a 
distance equal to postorbital part of head. The dorsal fin begins 
on the nape and extends nearly the entire length of the back, 
but the first is separated from the second by a very deep and 
long notch and a short interspace; the longest spine equals one 
half the distance from the eye to the second dorsal and is one 
fourth of total length including caudal; the spinous dorsal forms 
almost a semicircle when fully expanded, with a deep anterior 
and a deeper median notch. The second dorsal base is one sixth 
as long as the head to tip of upper jaw; its lomgest ray is one half 
the length of postorbital part of head. The caudal is very deeply 
forked, its width at base one fourth of length of external rays, 
which are nearly one fourth of total without caudal. There are 
two small keels on the base of the caudal. The divided anal fin 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



405 



begins under the 33d spine of the dorsal, the base of the two fins 
equaling one fourth the distance from tip of upper jaw to origin 
of second dorsal; the longest ray equals postorbital part of head; 
the second anal is similar to the second dorsal, but somewhat 
smaller. The ventral originates under the fifth spine of dorsal; 
its length is a little more than one fourth of total length to end 
of middle caudal rays. The pectoral is one half as long as the 
beak and eye combined and nearly equals the greatest hight of 
body. Eye small, one third of postorbital part of head. D. 
XLIV-7; A. 9 to 10-7; V. 2. 

Color bluish black, paler below; dorsal dusky bluish, with 
numerous roundish black spots, from one third to one fourth the 
diameter of orbit, on its membrane. 

The sailfish lives in the warmer parts of the Atlantic, ranging 

north w r ard to France and, occasionally, to Cape Cod. Here 

described from a drawing of specimen taken at Woods Hole 

Mass.; color notes from Dr Jordan. The species reaches the 

length of 10 feet. It is valuable for food but rarely comes to 

our markets. 

Genus tetrapturis Ratines que 

Body much compressed, covered with rudimentary .embedded 
scales; sword rounded on the edge; caudal keel double; small 
teeth in the jaws and on the palatines; ventral fins represented 
•each by a single spine; dorsal fins separate in the adult, part 
of the middle rays being aborted, not greatly elevated, their 
hight not greater than the depth of the body; air bladder sac- 
culated; vertebrae 12 + 12; intestine short, nearly straight; py- 
loric caeca very numerous. Large fishes of the deep seas. They 
swim in deep water, according to Poey, and pass Cuba in pairs 
in summer, bound for the Gulf of Mexico. Males smaller than 
females. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

203 Tetrapturus imperator (Bloch & Schneider) 
. Billfish; Spearfish 

Xiphias imperatcr Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 93, pi. XXI, 1801, 

Mediterranean. 
Tetrapturus belone Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss, VIII, 280, 

183a. 



406 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Tetrapturus albidus Poey, Memorias, II, 237, 1861, Havana; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 420, 1883. 
Histiophorus belone Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 513, 1860. 
Tetrapturus imperator Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. IV, 417, 1882; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 892, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. 

XVII, 97, 1898. 

Body similar in shape to that of the sailfish, its greatest depth 
contained six and one fourth times in total length without 
caudal; the least hight of caudal peduncle one fourth of the 
greatest depth. The head forms one third of total length with- 
out caudal; the upper jaw is exactly twice as long as the post- 
orbital part of the head and extends beyond tip of mandible a 
space equal to length of eye and postorbital part of head com- 
bined; the maxilla extends far behind the eye; the eye is about 
one fifth as long as postorbital part of head. The dorsal begins 
on the nape, over the upper angle of the gill opening. The first 
dorsal occupies nearly one half of the total length without 
caudal; its anterior sixth is elevated and the rest of the fin 
is low; the longest spine (the fourth) is about one third as long 
as the head, the 10th is only one seventh as long as the head,, 
and the last is scarcely one half as long as the eye. The inter- 
space between the dorsals is three elevenths of length of head. 
The second dorsal base is one seventh as long as the head; its 
first ray is one and one half times as long as the eye, and its 
last ray is about equally long, but some of the intervening rays 
are shorter. The caudal fin is narrow, crescentic, its width at 
base of lobes one fourth of its length, the external rays equal 
to one fourth the distance from eye to caudal base. The first 
anal fin originates under the 29th ray of the dorsal; the base 
is one fourth as long as the head; the longest ray two sevenths 
as long as the head, the last ray minute. The interspace be- 
tween the anals is one third as long as the head. The base 
of the second anal equals one third of postorbital length of 
head, the first and last rays equal, and as long as the base of the 
fin, the intervening rays shorter; two strong keels on the base 
of the caudal, each of them about twice as long as the eye. 
The ventral is very slender and long; it originates under the 
ninth ray of the dorsal, its length equal to postorbital part of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 407 

head. The pectoral insertion is under the sixth ray of the 
dorsal; the fin is nearly one half as long as the head; its position 
is in the lower fourth of the hight. The sword is rounded on 
the edges and much narrower than in the swordfish. D. Ill, 
35 to 39-6; A. II, 13-6; V. 1,4; P. 19; vertebrae 12 + 12. 

Color deep blue above, a little lighter on the flanks, passing 
into white below; fins intense blue, second anal and outside of 
pectoral clearer, first dorsal with rounded spots, more intense, 
of same color; iris clear blue, cornea blackish. 

Body covered with lanceolate, embedded scales. The color 
notes here given are from Dr Goode's excellent description in 
Proceedings of the U. 8. National Museum, IV, 420, 1882. 

The spearfish is found in the West Indies and on our Atlantic 
coast, ranging northward to Cape Cod. Individuals more than 
7 feet long have been taken, and the species is said to reach the 
length of 26 feet. At Woods Hole it is generally rare; but be- 
tween 1885 and 1890 numbers were captured in the traps in 
Vineyard sound and Buzzards bay during July and August, 
according to Dr Hugh M. Smith. Most were caught in the trap 
farthest up Buzzards bay, at Quissett harbor. 

The spearfish in our waters is said to resemble the swordfish 
in its movements and manner of feeding. Nothing is known of 
its breeding habits or its young. It is taken by means of hooks 
in deep water or by spearing at the surface. The hook fishing 
is not altogether a safe pastime, as the fishermen are often 
liable to be wounded or drowned by the fierceness and strength 
of the fish. Numerous instances are recorded of vessels having 
been pierced by the beak of the spearfish, and parts of such 
vessels containing the spear are exhibited in several museums. 

The flesh of the spearfish is highly esteemed in some localities. 

Family xiphiidae 

Swordfislies 

Genus xiphias Linnaeus 

Swordfishes without teeth, and without ventral fins. Body 

somewhat compressed; dorsal fins two, the anterior beginning 

opposite the gill openings, falcate and elevated, its hight rather 



408 NEW YORK STATE MUSEfUM 

less than that of the body, second dorsal very small, on the 
tail, opposite the small second anal. In the young, teeth are 
present, and the two dorsal fins are connected, the fin being 
elevated as in the species of Istiophorus. First anal sim- 
ilar to first dorsal, but smaller*, less falcate, and far behind it; 
pectoral fins moderate, falcate; skin naked, more or less rough, 
specially in the young, which have rudimentary scales; sword 
flattened and trenchant; caudal keel single; intestines long, sinu- 
ous; air bladder simple; pelvic arch obsolete. Fishes of great 
size, reaching a weight of 300 to 400 pounds, the flesh red and 
rich in flavor, highly valued as food. (After Jordan and Ever- 
mann) 

204 Xiphias gladius Linnaeus 

Swordfish 

Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed.X, 1, 248, 1758, Europe; Bloch, Ichth.. 
pi. 76, 1784; Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 242, Feb. 1818; Cuviee & 
iValenciennes, Hist. Nat: Poiss. VIII, 255, pi. 225, 226. 1831; De Kay, 
N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 111, pi. 26, fig. 79, 1842; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. 
Mus. II, 511, 1860; Stoeee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 71, pi. XIII, fig. 2, 1867; 
Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 14, 1879; Joedan & Gilbeet, 
Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 420, 1883; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 894, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 97, 1898. 

Body fusiform, tapering greatly toward the caudal fin, the 
head not long, but with a very long upper jaw produced into a 
beak or " sword," the greatest depth of the body one sixth, 
of total length to base of caudal, the least hight of caudal pedun- 
cle nearly equal to length of eye. The upper jaw is three times 
as long as the rest of the head; the " sword " is broad and 
rather thin. The lower jaw extends in front of the eye a space 
equal to one half of postorbital part of head. The angle of the 
mouth is well behind the eye. The eye is circular, its diameter 
one third of postorbital part of head and about -ft of total 
length of head. The dorsal begins over the upper angle of the 
gill opening; it is very high, nearly as high as the body, strongly 
falcate, its upper margin deeply concave, and the posterior rays, 
very short. The distance between the dorsals is less than one 
third of length of head. The second dorsal is very small, its 
base only one half as long as the eye, and its hight one and four 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 409 

fifths times its length of base; it is located a very little in front 
of the caudal keel. The caudal is erescentic, its external rays 
two fifths as long as the head. The caudal keel is single, 
median, its length nearly one sixth of length of head. The 
second anal is directly under the second dorsal and is of about 
the same size; the first anal is equidistant from the root of 
the caudal and the end of pectoral base; its base is as long as 
the caudal keel; its longest ray equals postorbital part of head, 
its last ray minute; the margin of the fin deeply concave. The 
pectoral origin is below the hind margin of the operculum; the 
base is narrow, about one fifth of length of fin, which is equal 
to depth of body. D. 39 to 40-2 to 4; A. 18 to 21-3; P. 20. 

Color " above rich purplish blue, shading into whitish be- 
neath, the sides and belly with a silvery luster. Fins dark 
bluish with silvery sheen except dorsal. Top of head rich pur- 
plish blue, the color extending upon the rostrum. Lower side 
of rostrum rich brownish purple. Eye deep blue." 

The swordfish inhabits the Atlantic and comes near both 
coasts; it is most abundant between Cuba and Cape Breton, 
rather common in the Mediterranean, and is occasionally taken 
off southern California. The fish appear in the vicinity of 
Sandy Hook about June first, and the fishing season continues 
as far east as Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket shoals till 
about the middle of September. They disappear to the south- 
ward as soon as the cold winds begin to blow. They feed on 
mackerel, menhaden, and squid. They are often caught on 
trawl lines, but the chief means of capture is the harpoon. 

The average length of swordfish is 10 feet, but individuals 
measuring 16 feet are on record. An individual weighing 750 
pounds was killed in 1874 off Portland. 

The flesh of this fish is very palatable, and the fishery is an 
important one as well as an exciting occupation. 

Young swordfish have the skin covered with small, rough 
excrescences, the jaws much more nearly equal, and the dorsal 
and anal fins not divided into two separate parts. 



410 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Family carangidae 

Crevalles 
Genus oligoplites Gill 
Body compressed, oblong or lanceolate; caudal peduncle slen- 
der, not keeled; head short, compressed, acute, occipital keel 
sharp; mouth rather large, with small, sharp teeth in bands on 
jaws, tongue, vomer and palatines, none on the pterygoids; 
jaws about equal, the upper not protractile, except in the very 
young, in which it is movable as in other Carangidae; maxillary 
very narrow, without distinct supplemental bone; gill rakers 
rather long; scales small, linear, and extremely narrow, em- 
bedded in the skin at different angles; lateral line unarmed; 
dorsal spines rather strong, three to five in number, nearly free 
in the adult; second dorsal very long, its posterior rays penicil- 
lated and nearly or quite disconnected, forming finlets; anal 
rather longer than soft dorsal, much longer than the abdomen, 
its last rays forming similar finlets, anal spines strong; ventral 
fins depressible in a groove; pectoral fins very short. Species 
few, in the tropical seas of America. (After Jordan and Ever- 
mann) 

205 Oligoplites saums (Bloch & Schneider) 

Leather Jacket 

Scomber sanrus Block & Schneidek, Syst. Ichth. 321, 1801, Jamaica. 
Chorinemus occidentalis Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 475, 1860; not 

Gasterosteus occidentalis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 490. 
Oligoplites occidentalis Gill, Froc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 166, 1863. 
Scomiroides occidentalis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 447, 

1883. 
Oligoplites saurns Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 973, 1883; Jordan & Ever- 

mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 898, 1896, pi. OXXXVIII, fig. 378, 

1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 360, 1897; Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. XVII, 97, 1898. 

Body elongate, much compressed, fusiform, its greatest hight 
contained three and two thirds times in total length without 
caudal (4 times in total to end of middle caudal rays), its width 
two sevenths of its hight and two fifths of length of head; least 
depth of caudal peduncle equals length of eye; head short, one 
fifth of total without caudal, its width three sevenths of its 
length; snout moderately pointed, its length about equal to orbit 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 411 

and three sevenths of length of head; nostrils a little nearer to 
eye than to tip of snout, the anterior tubular and much smaller 
than the posterior; interorbital space convex but with a narrow, 
sharp, low keel, the width of the space equal to length of snout; 
the slender maxilla reaches to below the hind margin of the eye, 
the length of the upper jaw being a little more than the snout 
and eye combined; the mandible is two thirds as long as the 
head; a double series of small, sharp, curved, conical teeth in 
each jaw; vomer and palatines with bands of villiform teeth, 
an oblong patch of villiform teeth on the tongue; gill rakers 
about 15, mostly below the angle, the longest two thirds as long 
as the eye. The origin of the spinous dorsal is nearly over the 
tip of the pectoral and at a distance from tip of snout equal to 
one third of total length without caudal; the length of the base 
equals length of head without the snout; the first spine, de- 
pressible forward as well as backward, is nearly as long 
as the pupil, the third and fifth equal and nearly as long 
as the snout; the membrane behind the second to fifth 
spines one half the hight of spines; the interspace between 
the dorsals is very short. The second dorsal base equals 
one half the distance from eye to root of caudal; the fin 
is composed chiefly of detached or semidetached finlets; 
the longest ray is equal to length of snout and eye com- 
bined; the last finlet equal to length of eye. A well developed 
procumbent spine before the dorsal. The middle caudal rays 
are one third as long as the external rays, which are as long 
as the head. The anal fin is preceded by two strong, sharp, sub- 
equal spines, the second as long as the eye, both followed by 
membrane; the base of the anal equals that of the soft dorsal; 
the longest ray two fifths as long as the head, the fin composed 
chiefly of partly detached rays, the last ray about as long as the 
snout. The ventral origin is directly under the lower axil of 
the pectoral; the fin reaches to the vent and to a point below 
the third spine of dorsal. The pectoral is on the level of the 
lower margin of the eye; it is three fifths as long as the head 
and reaches to below the second spine of the dorsal. Head 



41L* NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

naked; body covered with small, linear, embedded scales, which) 
are irregularly arranged; fins scaleless. D. V, I, 20; A," II. I r 
20; V. I, 5; P. I, 16. Top of head and back bluish; sides and 
lower parts silvery; fins, interopercle and iris yellow. 

The leather jacket inhabits both coasts of tropical America,, 
extending northward to Cape Cod and Lower California ;. it is 
very common in the West Indies and the Gulf of Mexico. Rare 
at Woods Hole, Mass., where only three examples were secured 
firom 1874 to 1886 in traps and pound nets. At Newport R. I. 
the species is occasionally seen. The fish is rare in Gravesend 
bay; an example 9f inches long and 2- 1 inches deep was secured 
in John B. De Nyse's pound in the summer of 1896. The fish 
has no value as food. 

Genus naucrates Rafinesque 

This genus differs from S e r i o 1 a only in the reduction of 

the spinous dorsal to a few (four or five) low, unconnected 

spines. The young, called Nauclerus and Xystoph- 

o r u s , have the spines of the dorsals connected by membrane, 

and a more or less distinct strong spine at the angle of the 

operculum. A single pelagic species widely distributed in the 

open seas. 

206 Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus) 

Pilot fish 

Gasterosteus ductor Linnaeus, Sy-at. Nat. ed. X, I, 295, 1758, pelagic. 

Scomber ductor Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 424, 1815. 

Xaucratcs uoieboracensis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 
325, 1831; De Kay, N, Y. Fauna, Fishes, 112, 1842, and figure of 
Xaucratcs ductor, pi. 74, fig. 235. 

Xaucratcs ductor Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 312, pi. 
232, 1831; Gunther. Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 374, 1860; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 443, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47. U. S. Nat. Mus. 900, 1896, pi. CXXXIX, fig. 379, 1900; Smith, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 97, 1898. 

Xaucratcs indicus Cuvier. Regne Anim, 111. Poiss. pi. 54, fig. 1, 1830. 

Body fusiform, elongate, moderately thick, its greatest hight 
one fourth of total length without the caudal, and about equal 
to length of head, its width equal to three fifths of length of 
head; least depth of caudal peduncle about equal to long 
diameter of eye; head subcorneal, the snout obtuse, length of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 413- 

• head one fourth of total without caudal; snout two seA r enths as 
long as the head; interorbital space convex, its width one half 
the length of head without the snout; maxilla expanded behind, 
reaching to below front of eye; mandible three sevenths as long 
as the head, reaching to below hind margin of eye; top of head 
and cheeks scaly, most of opercle and preopercle and all of 
inter opercle naked; teeth in bands in the jaws but comparatively 
few and weak; vomerines and palatines also small and the 
lingual patch narrow; gill rakers stout, short, about 17 below 
the angle, the longest one half the length of eye; eye one sixth as 
long as the head. The spinous dorsal consists of four short, 
isolated spines, the first located nearly above the end of the 
base of ventral, the second and third spines the longest and 
about one fourth as long as the snout. The second dorsal 
begins midway between tip of snout and base of caudal; the 
base of the fin is nearly three times as long as the pectoral; the 
second ray is longest and one half as long as the head, the last 
ray as long as the eye; the upper margin of the fin is slightly con- 
cave. There is a long, fleshy keel on the caudal peduncle, longer 
than the postorbital part of the head. The caudal is deeply 
forked, its outer rays more than twice as long as the middle 
rays, both measured from base of caudal fin; the outer rays are 
as long as the head. The anal is preceded by two very small 
spines; the base of the fin is as long as the head; the longest 
ray is as long as the snout and eye combined, the last ray as 
long as the snout. The vent is under the 10th ray of the dorsal. 
The ventral fin is under the lower axil of the pectoral; its 
length is three fifths of length of head; when extended, it 
reaches to below the origin of the second dorsal. The pectoral 
fin is below the level of the eye; its length is about equal to 
length of ventral; it reaches to below the third spine of the 
dorsal. I). IV-I, 26 to 27; A. II, I, 1G to 17; V. I, 5; P. I, 20. 
Scales minute, about 55 rows between gill opening and origin 
of second dorsal. Color bluish with five to seven broad, dark 
bands, some of these extending on the fins; outer margin of 
caudal, ventral and pectoral nearly black. 



414 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The pilotfish is pelagic in all tropical and temperate seas; it 

is occasionally taken on our coast as far north as Provincetown 

Mass., but is not at all common. It was reported at Woods Hole 

Mass. by Prof. Baird in 1871. The young are developed in the 

open ocean and are so different in appearance from the adult 

that they have been described as a distinct genus. The fish has 

no economic value. 

Genus seriola Cuvier 

Body oblong, moderately compressed, not elevated; occiput 
and breast not trenchant; head usually more or less conical, 
not very blunt; mouth comparatively large, with broad bands of 
villiform teeth on both jaws, tongue, vomer and palatines; a 
broad, strong, supplemental maxillary bone; premaxillaries pro- 
tractile; scales small; lateral line slightly arched, forming a keel 
on the caudal peduncle, not armed with bony plates; sides of 
head with small scales; first dorsal with about seven low spines, 
connected by membrane; second dorsal very long, elevated in 
front; anal similar to the soft dorsal but not nearly so long, 
shorter than the abdomen, preceded by two very small free 
spines, which disappear in old fishes; no finlets; ventral fins 
very long; pectorals short and broad; gill rakers moderate. 
Species of moderate or large size. 

207 Seriola zonata (Mitchill) 
Banded Rudder Fish 

Scomber zonatus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 427, 1815, New 
York Bay. 

Seriola zonata Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. 'Poiss. IX, 213, 1833; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 428, pi. 9, fig. 26, 1842, Long Island 
Sound; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 465, 1860; Stoker, Hist 
Fish. Mass. 79, pi. XV, fig. 5, 1867; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 445, 1883; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 16, 1879; 
Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 139, 1888; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 902, 1896; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 360, 
1897; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 97, 1898. 

Halatractus zonatus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 442, 1862. 

Body fusiform, compressed, moderately deep, its greatest 
<lepth one third of total length without caudal, its width less 
than one half the depth and equal to postorbital length of head; 
least depth of caudal peduncle equals one half length of snout; 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 415 

head rather long and subcorneal, compressed, its length nearly 
equal to depth of body, nearly one third of total length without 
caudal; snout long and pointed, three eighths as long as the 
head, twice as long as the eye; interorbital space convex, indis- 
tinctly keeled, its width equal to length of snout; maxilla 
broadly expanded behind, reaching to below middle of pupil; 
mandible extending to below hind margin of eye; nostrils small,, 
midway between tip of snout and eye; gill rakers 3+13, the 
longest two thirds as long as eye. The spinous dorsal origi- 
nates a little behind the pectoral insertion and directly over 
the origin of the ventral; the base of the fin is as long as the 
postorbital part of the head; the first spine is much shorter 
than the second, the third or fourth is longest, about as long 
as the eye, the last is minute. The second dorsal is preceded by 
a very short, stout spine; the base of the fin equals its distance 
from the nostril; the longest ray is equal to postorbital part 
of head, the last ray one fourth as long as the head and 
reaches to the base of the caudal fin. A low, unarmed keel 
is developed on the caudal peduncle. The caudal fin is deeply 
forked, the outer rays being nearly as long as the head. The 
anal fin is preceded by a single very small spine; the longest 
ray is one third as long as the head, the last ray one fourth 
as long as the head; the margin of the second dorsal and anal 
fins is very slightly concave. The ventral is very long, reaching 
nearly to the vent, and to below the 13th ray of the dorsal, its 
length nearly equal to length of head. The pectoral reaches to 
below origin of second dorsal, its length equal to snout and eye 
combined. Lateral line strongly arched over the pectoral. 
D. VII, I, 37 to 38; A. I to II, i, 20 to 21; V. I, 5; P. i, 19. 

Color bluish above, lower parts white; five or six broad dark 
bands on the sides, extending on the dorsal and anal fins; a 
narrow dark band obliquely from the spinous dorsal to the eye; 
spinous dorsal black; ventral black above, pale beneath; tips of 
caudal fin white. The bands become fainter or disappear in 
old fish. 

The banded pilot is found on our east coast from Cape Ann 
to Cape Hatteras; it reaches the length of 2 or 3 feet. The 



416 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

yoinig' arc very common as far north as Cape Cod. The species 
is seldom used for food. The name, shark's pilot, is in use at 
Somers Point N. J. 

Two individuals of the banded pilot were taken in Gravesend 
bay in September 1897. The species will live in captivity only 
when it has ample room. It feeds on small killifish, which it 
takes with a rush much like that of the brook trout. 

208 Seriola lalandi Cuv. & Val. (?) 
Amber Fish 

Seriola lalandi Ctjviek & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 208, 1833, 
Brazil; Gu'nther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 463, 1860; Goode & Bean, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. I, 43, 1881; Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. §. Nat Mus. 
271, 1882; Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 122, 123, 1884; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 903, 1896, pi. CXL, fig. 382, 1900; 
Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 160, 1897; Smith, Bull. IT. S. F. O. 
XVII, 97, 1898. 

Seriola gigas Poey, Memorias, II, 227, 1860, Cuba. 

Zonielitlujs gigas Poey, Syn. Pise. Cubens, 371, 1868. 

Body oblong, moderately elongate, robust, its greatest hight 
contained four and one fourth times in the total length without 
caudal, its width seven times; the least depth of the caudal 
peduncle equals one seventh of the length of head; head long, 
conical, its length two sevenths of total length without caudal; 
snout long and somewhat pointed, its length two and one fifth 
times diameter of eye and one third of length of head; the jaws 
are equal in front ; the maxilla reaches to below middle of pupil, 
and the length of the upper jaw is contained two and two 
sevenths times in length of head; the mandible is slightly more 
than one half as long as the head; the expanded end of maxilla 
exceeds the diameter of the eye, which is contained six and 
two fifths times in length of head; gill rakers 4+10, the longest 
nearly as long as the eye, very thin, much wider at base, and 
tapering gradually to a small, rounded point, very finely toothed 
on inner margin; teeth in broad, villiform bands in both jaws, 
an arrow-shaped patch with long, slender backward process on 
vomer, similar bands on palate and pharynx. The distance from 
snout to vertical from origin of spinous dorsal is nearly three 
times the length of base of the fin; the third and longest spine 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



417 



is seven and one half times as long as the last spine and nearly 
one fourth as long as the head; the base of spinous dorsal is 
contained two and two sevenths times in length of head. The 
interspace between the two dorsals is less than the length of 
the eye. The second dorsal base is one and one half times as 
long as the head; the second ray is the longest and equals three 
times the length of the eye, the last ray about one third as 
long as the second. The anal- origin is under the middle of the 
second dorsal and at a distance from the vent equal to one 
fourth the length of head; the anal base is as long as the head; 
the longest ray is nearly one half as long as the head, the last 
ray about equal to the last of the dorsal; the anal and second 
dorsal fins are elevated in front but very low for the most of 
their length. The ventral origin is directly under the insertion 
of the pectoral; the fin when extended reaches to below the 
last spine of dorsal, its length more than one half the length of 
head. The pectoral is broad at its base, somewhat falcate, its 
length nearly one half the length of head, the fin extending to 
below the seventh spine of the dorsal. D. VII, 36; A. I, 24; 
T. I, 5; P. 21. Scales about 24-160-30. 

The ground color is gray with purplish iridescence. A golden 
bronze stripe beginning on the snout and continued behind the 
eye to the caudal in a nearly straight line, slightly above 
the median line. Another bronze stripe begins above the 
eye and extends to the first dorsal. In life two dark bands 
; showed between the eyes and extended to the first dorsal. Sides 
and lower parts much mingled with silvery white; iris gray 
overlaid with golden yellow; pupil bluish black; all the fins 
colored like the body except the ventrals, which are whitish 
underneath, and gray mingled with white above. 

The weight of the fish was 13 pounds 1| ounces. 

The specimen described was obtained by Mr De Nyse in Graves- 
end bay, July 15, 1896. For the purpose of comparison and veri- 
fication of this identification, a series of measurements is here 
given in tabular form. 



418 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



MEASUREMENTS 

Inohps 

Length, including caudal 3314 

Length to end of middle caudal rays 30y 2 

Length of external caudal lobes from pit 7 

Length of middle caudal rays 2 

Greatest depth of body 6% 

Least depth of caudal peduncle iy s 

Greatest thickness of body 4 

Length of head 8 

Length of upper jaw 3 y 2 

Width across end of maxilla , iy 2 

Length of mandible 4y s 

Length of snout 2% • 

Diameter of eye 1^4 

Diameter of pupil % 

Distance from snout to vertical from first dorsal origin lO 1 ^ 

Length of first dorsal base 3% 

Length of first spine % 

Length of second spine 1% 

Length of third (longest) spine 1% 

Length of seventh spine % 

Distance from snout to second dorsal (obliquely) 34% 

Length of second dorsal base 11% 

Length of second ray of second dorsal 3% 

Length of first ray 1% 

Length of last ray 1 % 

Length of pectoral 3% 

Length of ventral . . . • 4 % 

Distance from ventral origin to anal origin. . . 10% 

Distance from vent to anal origin 2 

The amber jack here mentioned is supposed to be identical 
with the ' S. 1 a 1 a n d i of Cuvier & Valenciennes, a species 
ranging regularly from Brazil to West Florida and occasionally 
northward in summer to Cape Cod. It grows to the length of 
5 or 6 feet and the weight of 100 pounds, and it is a good food 
fish as well as a robust and vigorous prize for the angler. 

Genus elagatis Bennett 
Body long and slender; second dorsal and anal long, each with 
one detached Unlet composed of two rays behind the rest of the 
fin. Otherwise essentially as in S e r i o 1 a . The short spines 
preceding the anal fin are somewhat remote from the rest of 
the fin. Branchiostegals 7; lateral line not armed; villiform 
teeth in bands in the jaw, on the vomer and the palatines. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 419 

209 Elagatis bipinnulatus (Quoy & Gaimard) 
Runner 

Seriola Mpinnulata Quoy & Gaimard, Voyage Uranie, Zool. I, 363, pi. 61, 

fig. 3, 1824 ? Keeling islands. 
Seriolichtliys bipinnulatus Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 468, 1860. 
Seriola pinnulata ,Poey, Memorias, II, 233, 1860. 

Elagatis pinnulatus Jordan & Gilrert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 446, 1883. 
Elagatis bipinnulatus Jordan & Bveemank, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 906, 

1896; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 361, 1897. 

Body moderately elongate, slender, fusiform, its greatest 
depth one fourth of total length without caudal, its width three 
eighths of length of head; least depth of caudal peduncle equals 
diameter of eye; head conical, compressed, its width over 
opercles equal to length of postorbital part; alow occipital keel; 
snout moderately long," obtusely pointed, its length nearly equal 
to width of interorbital space, and contained three and one 
fourth times in length of head; lower jaw slightly projecting; 
maxilla almost reaching to below front of eye, the upper jaw 
one third as long as the head; mandible reaching nearly to 
below front margin of pupil, its length equal to postorbital part 
of head; interorbital space with a low keel between two shallow 
furrows, its width one third of length of head; eye one fourth 
the length of head (in young examples 5^ inches long), about 
one fifth in older fish; gill rakers 9+27, the longest one half 
as long as the snout. The spinous dorsal base is short, equal 
to postorbital part of head; the spines are very slender, closely 
placed, the longest not so long as the eye; the spines are depres- 
sible into a sheath; the origin of the fin is over the middle of the 
length of the pectoral. The soft dorsal originates about over 
the end of the ventral, midway between tip of snout and base of 
caudal; the longest ray is as long as the postorbital part of the 
head; the fin is shaped as in S e r i o 1 a, the second half being 
very low, the last ray about two thirds as long as the eye; the 
fin is followed by two unlets, the longest as long as the eye. The 
caudal is deeply forked, the middle rays, from base of fin, one 
third as long as the outer rays, which are as long as the head; 
no keel on the caudal peduncle. The anal origin is under the 
15th ray of the dorsal; the base of the fin is as long as the head; 



420 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the longest ray is three eighths as long as the head; the last ray 
two thirds as long as the eye; the fin is followed by two finlets, 
the longer as long as the eye. The ventral reaches a little be- 
yond the origin of the soft dorsal; the length of the fin is equal 
to snout and eye combined. The pectoral is as long as the ven- 
tral; it reaches to below the last spine of the dorsal; the fin 
originates slightly in advance of the ventral insertion. Body 
covered with small, cycloid scales; head naked except on sub- 
orbital and postorbital regions; scales extending somewhat on 
bases of soft dorsal and anal fins. D. VI-I, 26 to 27, 2; A. II, I, 
16 to 17, 2; V. I, 5; P. I, 20. Scales 16-110-20. 

Color of upper parts bluish; lower parts pale yellowish; 
caudal fin yellowish, the margin dusky; ventrals and pectorals 
yellowish tinged with blue; a blue band as wide as the eye from 
orbit to upper margin of caudal peduncle; another from snout 
along lower margin of orbit and continuing to the caudal, pass- 
ing above the pectoral. 

The runner is recorded from the East Indian archipelago, 
Polynesia, and tropical parts of the Atlantic, straying north- 
ward in summer, rarely to Long Island, where specimens have 
been taken by Dr Seth E. Meek and John B. De Nyse. The fish 
attains to the length of 30 inches. The example captured by 
Mr De Nyse was taken in his pound at Gravesend bay Aug. 2, 
1895; it is now preserved in the U. S, National Museum. The 
length of the specimen is about 15 inches. Young fish, about 
4 to 6 inches long, are before me from Florida and Cuba. 
Genus decapterus Bleeker 

Body elongate, little compressed, almost perfectly fusiform; 
head short, pointed; mouth rather small; jaws about equal, the 
dentition feeble; maxillary rather broad, with a supplementary 
bone; premaxillaries protractile; scales moderate, enlarged for 
the whole length of the lateral line, but spinous and bony pos- 
teriorly only; second dorsal and anal each with a single detached 
finlet; free anal spines very strong; first dorsal well developed, 
persistent; pectorals comparatively short; abdomen rather 
shorter than anal fin; gill rakers long and slender. Species 
numerous. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 421 

210 Decapterus punctatus (Agassiz) 
Scad; Round Robin 

Scomber hippos Mitchill Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, pi. V, fig. 5, 1815; 

Am. Month. Mag. II, 246, Feb. 1818, not of Linnaeus. 
-Caranx punctatus Agassiz, Spix. Pise. Bras. 108, pi. 56a, fig. 2, 1829, Brazil; 

Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 38, 1833; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna, Fishes, 122, pi. 73, fig. 233, 1842; Gtinther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

Mus. II, 426, 1860. 
Decapterus punctatus Poey, Syn. Pise. Cub. 368, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert, 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 432, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. 

N. Y. 256, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 362, 1897; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 907, 1896; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

XVII, 97, 1898. 

Body scombriform, moderately elongate, its greatest depth one 
"fifth to two ninths of total length without caudal, its width one 
half the length of head; least depth of caudal peduncle one sixth 
the length of head; head subcorneal, moderately compressed, its 
width one half its length, the snout obtusely pointed, as long as 
iihe eye, two sevenths as long as the head, the jaws subequal in 
front; maxilla expanded posteriorly, reaching to below front of 
eye; premaxilla projectile; mandible one half as long as the 
head, reaching to below front of eye; eye round, equal to snout, 
two sevenths of length of head; interorbital space convex, cov- 
ered with small scales, its width equal to eye; a low, but dis- 
tinct nuchal keel; opercular bones partly naked; gill rakers 
very numerous, long and slender; a small prominence on the 
shoulder girdle in front of base of pectoral; teeth in jaws uni- 
serial, teeth on vomer and palatines, present or absent on 
tongue. The spinous dorsal originates over the 13th or 14th 
scale of the lateral line and slightly in advance of the middle of 
the pectoral; the base of the fin is as long as the head without 
the snout* the first spine is very slender, and as long as the 
■eye; the longest spine as long as the snout and eye combined. 
The soft dorsal base is one third of total length including the 
caudal: the longest ray is one half as long as the head, the last 
ray two thirds as long as the eye; the fin is followed by a single 
finlet consisting of two rays, the length equal to length of eye. 
The middle caudal rays are two fifths as long as the outer, 
which are five sixths as long as the head. The anal base is one 



422 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

third of total length without caudal; the fin is preceded by two* 
short, stiff spines with a membrane behind each, the first of 
these spines two thirds as long as the eye; the longest anal ray- 
is one half as long as the head and three times as long as the 
last ray; the fin is followed by a single two-rayed finlet which is 
three fourths as long as the eye. The ventral origin is equally 
distant from tip of snout and anal origin; the fin reaches to 
below the sixth spine of the dorsal, its length one half the 
length of head. The pectoral reaches to below the end of the 
spinous dorsal, its length three fourths of length of head. Head 
scaly except on the nasal, mandibular and preorbital regions; 
body covered with small scales; dorsal, anal and pectoral fins 
more or less scaly at base; lateral line with a long arch in its 
anterior one half, passing through enlarged scales in its curved 
part and armed with 41 scutes in its straight part. D. VIII-i r 
31-1; A. Il-i, 24 to 27-1; V. I, 5; P. i, 20. 

Color slaty blue above, silvery below; a small, dark, opercular 
spot, smaller than the pupil; a series of 12 or 13 dark points in 
the curved part of the lateral line. 

The dotted scad, or round robin, is a very common fish at the 
Bermudas and in the West Indies. On the east coast it is found 
from Cape Cod to Brazil, but only young or half grown speci- 
mens are taken on Long Island and around Cape Cod. The 
species grows to the length of 1 foot. In the Bermudas it is an 
important food fish and furnishes infinite sport for the small 
anglers. 

Dr Mitchill illustrates it in fig. 5, pi. 5, of his Fishes of New 
York, and names it the hippos mackerel. In Dr De Kay's New 
York Fauna it is the spotted caranx. It is taken not uncom- 
monly at Woods Hole Mass. The species appears to be rare in 
New York waters, as it was known to De Kay only from the 
descriptions of Mitchill and Cuvier. The fish has not been recog- 
nized in Gravesend bay, but it is abundant in August at South, 
ampton L. I. and has been taken at Fire Island in October dur- 
ing the fall migration. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 423 

211 Decapterus macarellus (Cut. & Val.) 
Mackerel Scad 

Oaranx macarellus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 40, 1833 

(Martinique) ; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 426, 1860. 
Decapterus macarellus Poey, Ermmeratio, 79, 1875; Jordan & Gilbert, 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat Mus. 433, 1883; Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat Mus. 909, 1896, pi. CXL. fig. 383, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. 

Hist. IX, 362, 1897; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 97, 1898. 

Body elongate, fusiform, subterete, its greatest depth one 
liftli of total length, its width one half the length of head; least 
depth of caudal peduncle one eighth of length of head; head 
long, subcorneal, snout obtusely pointed, lower jaw slightly pro- 
jecting, length of head one fourth of total without caudal; max- 
illary not quite reaching to front of orbit; the upper jaw equal 
to length of snout; mandible extending to below front of eye, 
its length equal to postorbital part of head; nostrils on top of 
head, nearer eye than to tip of snout; eye large, one fourth the 
length of head; interorbital space convex, its width equal to 
eye; a very low keel on top of head; no scales on nasal and pre- 
orbital regions; gill rakers 8+30, the longest two thirds as 
long as the eye. The spinous dorsal originates at a distance 
from tip of snout equal to one third the total length without 
caudal; the longest spine is one half as long as the head, the last 
spine minute. The interspace between the two dorsals is one 
lialf the diameter of eye. The second dorsal base equals one 
third of total length to end of middle caudal rays; the anterior 
one fourth of the fin is much higher than the rest, the longest 
ray one third of length of head, the last ray one half as long as 
the snout; the fin is followed by a single finlet of two rays, the 
longer two thirds as long as the eye. The caudal fin is moder- 
ately forked, the middle rays, from base of fin, four sevenths as 
long as the outer, which are equal to snout and eye combined. 
The anal fin is preceded by two short, sharp spines, the first 
longer, one half as long as the snout; the rays begin under the 
ninth ray of the second dorsal; the base is as long as the dis- 
tance from ventral origin to preanal spines; the longest ray 
about one third as long as the head, the last ray' one half as 
Jong as the snout; the fin is followed by a single two-rayed finlet, 



424 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

which is two thirds as long as the snout. The ventral insertion 
is under the lower axil of the pectoral ; the fin extends to below 
the fifth spine of the dorsal, its length equal to postorbital part 
of head. The pectoral extends to below the sixth spine of the 
dorsal, its length equal to the head without the snout. Small 
scales on nape; nasal, preorbital and mandibular regions naked y 
sides of head mostly with enlarged, thin scales; small scales on 
opercle ; margin of subopercle finely serrate ; body covered with 
small scales ; anterior half of lateral line with a slight curve, the 
scales prominent; posterior half of lateral line straight and 
armed with about 31 keeled scutes, the armed portion consti- 
tuting the second half of the length. D. VHI-i, 34-1 ; Il-i, 28-1; 
V. I, 5; P. i, 24. Scales 15-100+31-18. 

Color slate blue or plumbeous above, silvery below; a small, 
black opercular spot, smaller than pupil; upper axil of pectoral 
black. 

The mackerel scad inhabits the warm parts of the Atlantic, 
ranging northward in summer to Cape Cod. It has not yet been 
reported in Gravesend bay, but was seined in abundance in the 
Atlantic at Southampton L. I. Aug. 31, 1897, associated with 
Decapterus punctatus, young Scomber, P o m a - 
tomus, Rhombus, Clupea, Etrumeus, two species 
of S t o 1 e p h o r u s, and Paralichthys. 

The species grows to the length of 1 foot. It is excellent 
for food but large individuals seldom reach our coast. It is 
said to be more abundant along the south Florida coast, where 
it lives in shallow water and in harbors, usually moving about in- 
small schools. At Key West the fish are caught in seines, and 

are eaten. 

Genus trachurus Rafinesque 

Body rather elongate, somewhat compressed, not elevated,, 
tapering to a slender caudal peduncle, which is as broad as- 
deep ; scales present, not very small ; lateral line armed through- 
out with plates, those on the caudal peduncle larger and spin- 
ous; an accessory dorsal branch to the lateral line; snout rather 
long; mouth moderate; minute teeth mostly in single series on 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 425 

jaws, vomer and palatines; dorsals two, the first preceded by a 
procumbent spine, no finlets; two strong spines before the anal, 
connected by membrane; pyloric caeca numerous. About 4 
species known; found in all warm seas. 

212 Trachurus trachurus (Linnaeus) 
Gascon; Saurel 

Scomber trachurus Linnaeus, Sysit. Nat. ed. X, I, 298, 1758, Mediterranean. 

Caranw trachurus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 11, pi. 246, 
1833; Cuvier, Regne Anim. 111. Poiss. pi. 57, fig. 1. 

Trachurus saurus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 912, 1883. 

Trachurus trachurus Bloch, Naturgesch. Ichth. II, 138, pi. 36, 1784; 
Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 419, 1860 (in part); Lutken, Spolia 
Atlantica, 125, 1880; Jordan & Gilbert, Proe. U. S. Nat. Mus. 269, 
1882; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 910, 1896, pi. 
CXI/, fig. 384, 1900. 

Body strongly compressed and moderately deep, the depth 
contained four times in the length of the body; head rather 
long, its length being contained three and one half times in that 
of the body; eye large, equal to snout, its length contained four 
times in that of the head; mouth moderate, the maxillary reach- 
ing the front of the eye; arch of lateral line short, reaching 
scarcely beyond pectoral, one and one third in the straight part, 
the plates high, nearly as high anteriorly as posteriorly, their 
hight more than half of eye. Greenish, sides silvery; a dusky 
opercular spot. Length one foot. North Atlantic, chiefly on the 
coasts of Europe, south to Spain and Naples; it is very rare on 
our coast, recorded from Newport K. I., Pensacola, and Cape San 
Lucas. D. VIII-I, 29; A. II-I, 28; scutes 40+37. 

The saurel, or scad, ranges north to the Trondhjem fiord, 
latitude 65°, and is said to occur as far south as Portugal. On 
the coast of Holland it is known as the marse banker, or hors. It 
is interesting to American ichthyologists, since the similarity of 
its habits to those of the menhaden caused the latter fish to be 
called among the early Dutch colonists of New York by the same 
name. 

The scads are described by European writers as occurring on 
those coasts in enormous schools, moving like menhaden but with 
feeding habits similar to those of our bluefish. They are fairly 



426 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

good food fishes, but of small size, seldom exceeding 1 foot in 
length. Only a few specimens have been recorded on our Atlan- 
tic coast from Newport R. I., Pensacola Fla., and Cape San Lucas, 
Lower California. 

Genus trachurops Gill 
This genus is close to Caranx, differing in the more elon- 
gate form and specially in the structure of the shoulder girdle, 
which has a deep cross furrow at its junction with the isthmus, 
with a fleshy projection above the furrow. 

213 Trachurops crumenophthalmus (Bloch) 
Big-eyed Scad; Goggler 

Scomber crumenophthalmus Bloch, Ichth. pi. 343, 1793. 

Scomber plumieri Bloch, op. cit. pi. 344, 1793, Antilles; Stoker, Syn. Fish. 

N. A. 100, 1846. 
Caranx crumenophthalmus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 107, 1803: 

Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 62, 1833; Gvnther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 429, 1860; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 434, 1883. 
Trachurops crumenophthalmus Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. "U. S. Nat. Mus. 

196, 1883; Jordan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 911, 1896, 

pi. OX-LI, fig. 385, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 362, 

1897; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. XVII, 97, 3898. 

Body oblong elongate, little compressed, the back not elevated. 
The depth is contained three and one half times in the length. 
Head elongate, rather pointed, the lower jaw projecting; maxil- 
lary reaching past the front of the eye, which is very large, 
longer than snout, much deeper than cheeks, and greater than 
the interorbital width. The length of the head is contained 
three and one half times, while that of the eye is contained three 
times in the length of the body. A single series of teeth in each 
jaw, very weak teeth on vomer and palatines, a patch of teeth 
on tongue. Shoulder girdle near isthmus with a fleshy projec- 
tion, in front of which is > a deep cross farrow ; adipose eyelid 
largely developed; scales, comparatively large; cheeks and breast 
scaly; gill rakers long and numerous; lateral line scarcely arched, 
its scutes weak, but little carinated; dorsal spines slender; free 
anal spines strong; pectorals falcate, shortish, about one and 
one seventh in the head; an angle at lower posterior part of 
opercular region as in C 1 u p e a . Bluish olive above, silvery 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 427 

below; a faint opercular spot. Length about 2 feet. D. VIII-I, 
26; A. 11-1,22; scutes 35. 

Found on both coasts of tropical America, and extending 
northward on our east coast to Cape Cod; common in the West 
Indies and on the west coast of Mexico; also found on the coast 
of Africa and in most tropical seas; abundant in the Caribbean 
sea in winter. 

This is the goggler or goggle-eyed jack of the Bermudas and 
the Cicharra of Cuba. In the Bermudas it is a food fish of 
some importance. In January 1885 a few individuals were 
seined at the island of Cozumel, off Yucatan. The fish was found 
to be excellent for the table. 

At Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, it is common 
every year from about October 15 to Xovember 15, the individ- 
uals taken measuring from 4 inches to 6 inches in length. 

July 25, 1901, a single example, about 4 inches long, was picked 
up dead on the ocean beach opposite Clam Pond cove; one of a 
number of little fish which had probably been driven ashore by 
bluefish or some other predatory species, for the fish had recently 
died, and there had been no storm. Seven species in all were 
found in a distance of about 2 miles; they were common mackerel, 
bluefish, mackerel scad, two species of anchovy, young sea her- 
ring, and the big-eyed scad. 

The big-eyed scad is taken in the fall in Gravesend bay. It 
was found Aug. 31, 1897, in the surf at Southampton L. I. This 
:fish will not endure close confinement, but will live within suit- 
able limits of temperature in large bodies of water. In captivity 
it feeds on small killifish, shrimp, and chopped clams. 

Genus caraivx Lacepede 
Body ovate or oblong, compressed, the back sometimes con- 
siderably elevated, sometimes little arched; head moderate or 
rather large, more or less compressed; mouth moderate or large, 
oblique; maxillary broad, with a well developed supplemental 
bone, extending to below eye; premaxillaries protractile; teeth 
developed in one or few series, unequal, or at least not in villi- 
1 orm bands, villiform teeth usually present on vomer, palatines, 



42S NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and tongue, wanting or deciduous in some species; gill rakers 
long; eye large, with an adipose eyelid; dorsal spines rather low r 
connected; second dorsal long, usually elevated in front, both fins 
depressible in a groove; anal fin similar to second dorsal and' 
nearly as long, preceded by two rather strong spines, its base- 
longer than "the abdomen; caudal fin strongly forked, the* 
peduncle very slender; ventral fins moderate; pectorals falcate;; 
no finlets; scales present, mostly very small; lateral line with its 
posterior part armed with strong bony plates, which grow larger 
on the tail, each plate armed with a spine, a short dorsal branch 
of lateral line usually present; preopercle entire in the adult, 
serrate in the young, usually with a membranaceous border. 
Species very numerous in all warm seas. 

Subgenus trichopterus Rafinesque 

214 Caranx hippos (Linnaeus) 

Crevalle 

Scomber hippos Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 494, 1766, Charleston, Souths 

Carolina. 
Caranx carangus Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 91, 1833;: 

Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 448, 1860. 
Caranx defensor De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 120, pi. 24, fig. 72, 1842; 

Holbeook, Ichth. S. C. 87, pi. 12, fig. 1, 1860. 
Carangus hippos Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 433, 1862; Goode & Bean, 

Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 16, 1879. 
Caranx hippus Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 437, 1883; 

Joedan & Gilbeet, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 200, 1883. 
Caranx hippos Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 139, 1888; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat.. 

Hist. IX, 362, 1897; 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 103, 1900;. 

Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 920, 1896, pi. CXLI, 

fig. 387, 1900; Meaens, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X ? 318, 1808; Smith, 

Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 98, 1898. 

Body oblong, the anterior profile very strongly arched. The 
depth is contained two and one half times in the length. Head 
large and deep, its length being contained three and one half 
times in that of the body; mouth large, low; lower jaw promi- 
nent, maxillary extending to nearly opposite posterior border 
of eye, two and one third in head; teeth in upper jaw in a 
broad villiform band, an outer series of large, wide set, con- 
ical teeth, teeth of lower jaw in one row, a distinct canine on 
each side of symphysis; villiform teeth on vomer, palatines,. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 420 

pterygoids, and tongue; lateral line with a wide arch, its length 
one and one third in straight part, the angle under fifth dorsal 
ray, plates not covering all of the straight part, lateral line- 
(scutes) about 30; dorsal spines short, rather stout; gill rakers 
stout, rather long, 15 below angle; occipital keel sharp; eye not 
very large; pectoral falcate, one fifth longer than head; breast 
naked, with only a small triangular patch of scales in front of 
ventrals; caudal lobes equal, nearly as long as head. D. VIII-I^ 
20; A. 11-1,17. 

Olivaceous above, sides and below golden; a large, distinct 
black blotch on opercle, bordered behind with pale; a large faint 
black spot on lower rays of pectorals, the latter sometimes 
wanting in young; axil of pectoral with a black blotch; edge of 
soft dorsal black; upper edge of caudal peduncle dusky. 

The crevalle' is found on the east coast from Nova Scotia 
southward, ranging to the West Indies and Brazil. The young- 
are very common along the coast of southern New England in 
summer. De Kay calls it the yellow caranx, and Mitchill men- 
tions it as the yellow mackerel. The specimens seen by both 
these authors came from the bay of New York. 

At Woods Hole Mass. the young arrive in July and leave in 
October. In Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., young individuals 
were taken sparingly in August. De Kay records the species 
as abundant in New York bay in September and October. The 
writer saw several examples from a fish trap at Islip L. I., Oct. l r 
1890. 

Young crevalle' make a croaking sound when captured in a 
net or held in the hand. 

On the gulf coast of Florida, Alabama and Mississippi the 
fish is migratory, just as it is here; it makes its appearance in 
April, spawns in July or August, and then disappears and is 
replaced by the young. It feeds on small fish, which it pur- 
sues eagerly, and is preyed on by sharks and porpoises. 

It grows to the length of 15 inches and is highly prized for 
food. 

The crevalle' can be successfully kept in captivity in large- 
pools with a temperature above 50° in winter. The fish occa- 
sionally school together under a large shark and follow it about- 



430 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Subgenus paratractus Gill 

215 Caranx crysos (Mitchill) 

Yellow Mackerel 

Scomber crysos Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 424, 1815, New 

York. 
Caranx pisquetus Ctjviek & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 97, 1833, 

San Domingo, Cuba, and Brazil; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 435, 1883. 
Paratractus pisquetus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 432, 1862; Goode 

& Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 16, 1879. 
Caranx clirysos Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 75, pi. XIV, fig. 3, 1867 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 445, 1860. 
Caranx clirysus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 970, 1883 

Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 256, pi. VII, fig. 10, 1890. 
Caranx crysos De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 121, pi. 27, fig. 85, 1842 

Jordan & Bvermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 921, 1896, pi. CXLII 

fig. 388, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 362, 1897; Smith 

Bull. IT. S. F. C. XVII, 98, 1898. 

Body oblong, moderately elevated, the dorsal and ventral 
outlines about equally arched. The depth of the body is con- 
tained about three and one fourth times in the length. Profile 
forming a uniform curve. The length of the head is contained 
three and three fourths times in the length of the body. Snout 
rather sharp; mouth slightly oblique, a little below axis of 
body; maxillary reaching about to middle of orbit; teeth 
comparatively large, a single series in lower jaw, upper jaw 
with an inner series of smaller teeth, no canines, teeth on 
vomer, palatines and tongue; eye rather small, shorter than 
snout, three and one half in head; gill rakers long and numer- 
ous; pectoral as long as head, barely reaching anal, rarely 
longer than head in certain specimens from Key West, possibly 
referable to C. c a b a 1 1 u s ; scales moderate; cheeks, and 
breast seal}' ; lateral line with a weak arch anteriorly, which is 
about half the length of straight portion, lateral scutes numer- 
ous, developed on whole straight part of lateral line, lateral 
line 50 (scutes). D. VIII-I, 24; A. II-I, 19. 

Greenish olive, golden yellow or silvery below; a black blotch 
on opercle; fins all pale. An individual 3^ inches long, taken 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 431 

at Beesleys Point N. J. Aug. 11, 1887, showed the following col- 
ors: caudal yellow; basal half of elevated part of anal yel- 
low; cheeks and lower half of sides also yellow; a black oper- 
cular spot, but none on pectoral; several narrow pale bars on 
sides; tip of elevated part of soft dorsal dusky; membrane be- 
tween dorsal spines dusky; iris copper color. 

The yellow mackerel is a widely distributed fish in warm seas; 
it is recorded from the East Indies, both coasts of tropical 
America, and northward to Cape Ann and the Gulf of California. 
The young are common at Woods Hole Mass., where they appear 
in July and become most abundant in October. Individuals 1 
inch long have been obtained there about July 1; larger fish 
occur in the fall. In August 1898 only a few young ones were 
secured in Great South bay and at Southampton L. I. 

The fish probably spawns in west Florida in May in the salt 
water bayous, as the young fish are seen coming out of such 
places in schools in the fall on their way to the sea. Fish weigh- 
ing about a pound or two are considered equal to pompano for 
the table, but large fish are not esteemed, the flesh being dark 
and almost tasteless. The species reaches the weight of 20 
pounds. 

The yellow mackerel resembles the big-eyed scad in its endur- 
ance of captivity and its feeding habits. At the end of Novem- 
ber it has been known to thrive in a pool containing about 
50,000 gallons of water in company with the crevalle', the big- 
eyed scad and other species. 

Genus alectis Rafinesque 
Body rhomboid, deep, strongly compressed, more or less com- 
pletely covered with minute embedded scales, sometimes appar- 
ently naked; scutes on the straight part of the lateral line en- 
larged, bony and spinous, as in Caranx, but much less de- 
veloped; mouth moderate, with bands of villiform teeth on jaws, 
vomer, palatines and tongue; first dorsal fin little developed, the 
spines short and rudimentary, mostly disappearing with age;, 
soft dorsal and anal similar to each other; the first five or six. 



432 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

rays of each fin elongate and villiform in the young, becoming 
shorter with age; ventral fins elongate in young, short in the 
adult; pectorals falcate; no finlets; caudal peduncle narrow, the 
•caudal widely forked; gill rakers moderate, stout. This genus 
is not essentially different from C a r a n x , the great change in 
form arising from no important modification of the skeleton. 
The changes due to age are surprisingly great, as Dr Liitken has 
shown, the characters of the nominal genera being chiefly stages 
in the growth of individuals. The young individuals are almost 
orbicular in form, with the filaments excessively long. Tropical 



216 Alectis ciliaris (Bloch) 
Threadfish; Cobbler fish; Shoemakerfish 

Zeus ciliaris Bloch, Ichth. VI, 29, pi. 29, 1788, East Indies. 

Zeus crinitis Akerly, Anier. Jour. Sci. Arts, XI, 144, pi. 2, 1826, Shoreham. 

Blepharis crinitus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 123, pi. 25, fig. 76, 1842. 

Blepharichthys crinitus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 262, 1862. 

Caranx sutor Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 454, 1860. 

Alectis crinitus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 438, 1883. 

Alectis ciliaris Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 981, 1896; 

Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 362, 1897; 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. 

State Mus. 108, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. XVII, 98, 1898. 

Body oval, much compressed, highest at the elevated bases of 
the dorsal and anal fins. The depth of the body is contained 
from one and one fourth to two times in the length of the body. 
The length of the head is contained three and one third times in 
that of the body. Mouth nearly horizontal in the adult, very 
oblique in the young; preorbital very deep; first rays of dorsal 
and anal filamentous, exceedingly long, in the young much 
longer than body, becoming shorter with age; lateral with a wide 
arch, the curved part about equal to the straight part; scaly 
sheath of fins little developed; scutes 12, scutes becoming 
stronger and blunter with age; ventrals broad; occipital keel 
sharp; pectorals long and falcate, longer than head. D. VI-I, 
19; A. II— 1, 16. Bluish above, golden yellow below; a dark blotch 
on opercle; a black spot on orbit above; a black blotch on dorsal 
and anal in front. 

The threadfish is found on the east coast from Cape Cod to the 
Caribbean sea and on the Pacific coast of tropical America. In 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 433 

-western Mexico it attains to the length of 3 feet and is used for 
lood. At Woods Hole Mass., it is usually uncommon, but some- 
times abundant, appearing about the middle of June and re- 
maining till November. 

De Kay described a specimen from Long Island sound, the only 
one observed by him. One was taken in a pound net at Islip 
Aug. 18, 1898, by W. F. Clock. The threadfish enters Gravesend 
T)ay occasionally in summer. In captivity it will not endure a 
water temperature much below 60°. 

Genus vomer Cuv. & Val. 

This genus is closely allied to C a r a n x , from which it differs 
only in its distortion of form, and in its weak teeth and very low 
iins. Body broad, ovate, very strongly compressed, all the out- 
lines sharply trenchant; head very gibbous above the eyes, its 
anterior profile vertical; lateral line strongly arched, its pos- 
terior part with very weak shields; scales minute, rudimentary; 
soft dorsal and anal extremely low, not falcate. Young much 
-deeper in form than the adult, all the fins higher, resembling 
Selene. Warm seas. 

217 Vomer setipinnis (Mitchill) 
Horsefish; Moonfish 

-Zeus setapinnis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 384, pi. I, fig. 9, 

1815, New York. 
Vomer brownii Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 189, pi. 256, 
1833, New York & West Indies; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 127, 
pi. 25, fig. 78, 1842. 

-Argyreiosas setipinnis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 459, 1860. 

■Selene setipinnis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 440, 1883. 

Corner setipinnis Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 436, 1862; Jordan & Gil- 
bert, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 934, 1896, pi. CXLIV, fig. 392, 1900; 
Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist IX, 362, 1897; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 
XVII, 98, 1898. 

Body oblong, rhombic, less elevated than in Selene vomer; 
profile anteriorly nearly vertical, highest above eye, snout some- 
what protruding, belly mostly arched in young; mouth oblique; 
maxillary reaching vertical from front of orbit. The depth of 
the body is contained twice in the length in an adult but only 
irom one and one fourth to one and three fourths in the young. 
The length of the body is three and one fourth times the length 



431 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

of the head. Scutes 20; ventral fins minute; dorsal and anal 
very low, specially in adult, the long rays disappearing very 
early; pectorals falcate, about as long as head. D. VIII-I, 21 or 
22; A. II-I, 19 or 20. 

Color above plumbeous or greenish; sides and lower parts 
lustrous silvery; membrane of second dorsal light yellow at base y 
the membrane with minute black points; pectorals greenish, 
tinged with dusky; young with a black blotch, smaller than the 
eye, at the beginning of the straight part of the lateral line. 

The horsefish inhabits the seas of tropical America, ranging 
from Maine to Brazil and from Lower California to Peru. In 
summer it is sometimes abundant as far north as Saco Me., and 
at Woods Hole Mass., in Buzzards bay and Vineyard sound, but 
sometimes it is rare in those waters. When present, it appears 
in August and remains till September. The fish is also reported 
in western Africa. Mitchill calls it the bristly dory. He records 
it from New York bay. De Kay states that it appears in New 
York waters in July and August, and that it is esteemed for 
food. An individual was brought from Gravesend bay Oct. 21,. 
1896, and a young example, known there as dollarfish, was re- 
ceived from the same locality Oct. 22, 1896. 

The species reaches the length of 1 foot. It is esteemed an 
excellent article of food. It finds its way to New York in con- 
siderable numbers every year but is rarely seen in other markets. 
Nothing is known of its breeding habits. 

The horsefish has several additional common names: sunfish, 
jorobado (Cuba), blunt-nosed shiner, pug-nosed shiner, and hump- 
backed butterfish. 

Grenus selene Lacepede 

Body very closely compressed and much elevated, the profile 
very oblique or nearly vertical; edges of body everywhere trench- 
ant, specially anteriorly; head short and very deep, the opercle 
very short, and the preorbital extremely deep; an abrupt angle 
at the occipital region; mouth rather small; premaxillaries pro- 
tractile, fitting into a notch between the bases of the maxillaries; 
maxillaries broad, each with a supplemental bone; tongue nar- 



PISHES OP NEW YORK 435 

row, free; teeth minute, on jaws, tongue, vomer, and palatines; 
gill rakers long and slender; spines of fins usually weak, more or 
less filamentous in the young; free anal spines immovable, some- 
times obsolete in the adult; soft fins falcate, much elevated; no 
finlets; head naked; scales minute; lateral line wholly unarmed. 
Coloration silvery. Tropical seas. Notwithstanding its extra- 
ordinary form, this genus differs in no important regard from 
Car anx . 

218 Selene vomer (Linnaeus) 

LooMown; Moonfish 

Zeus vomer Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 266, 1758, America. 

Argyreiosus vomer Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 566, 1803; De Kay, N. Y. 
Fauna, Fishes, 124, pi. 75, fig. 238, 1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit 
Mus. II, 458, 1860; Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 437, 1862; Bean, 
19th Rep. Oomm. Fish. N. Y. 256, 1890. 

Argyriosus vomer Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 16, 1879. 

Selene argentea Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 560, pi. 9, fig. 2, 1803, (adult). 

Zeus capillaris Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 383, pi. II, fig. 2, 
1815, (young), New York. 

Zeus rostratus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 384, pi. II, fig. 1, 
1815, (young), New York. 

Zeus geometricus Mitchill, An. Month. Mag. II, 245, Feb. 1818, (adult), 
New York. 

Argyreiosus capillaris De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 125, pi. 27, fig. 82, 1842, 
New York. 

Selene vomer Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 177, 1833; 
Brevoort, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. V, 68, pi. 4, 1853; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 439, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, 
BuU. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 936, 1896, pi. CXLIV, fig. 398, (young), pL 
CXLV, fig. 393a, adult, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 363, 
1897, 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 103, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S- 
F. C. XVII, 98, 1898. 

Selene gallus Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 139, 1888. 

The depth of the body is contained one and one half times in 
the length; while the length of the head is contained three times 
in the length of the body. Diameter of eye, length of opercle ? 
and distance from eye to profile about equal; eye twice in maxil- 
lary, two and one half in preorbital; mandibles very deep, the 
dentary bones thin, approximate; one or two of the dorsal spines 
greatly elongate and filamentous in the young, short in the 
adult; ventrals variable in length, usually as long as the eye 
in the adult, variously elongate in partly grown specimens; the 



436 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

long dorsal rays contained twice in the length of the body; the 
pectoral two and three fourths times; and the long anal rays 
two and two thirds. D. VIM, 22; A. II-I, 20. Bluish above, 
sides and below silvery with golden reflections; anterior edge 
of soft dorsal black; axil dusky. 

Examples measuring from 3 to 4 inches, taken at Beesleys 
Point N. J. Aug. 10-11, 1887, showed the following colors: sil- 
very; five golden bands on sides, one of which extends through 
the eye and below it half way to maxilla, or slightly farther. 
The second and third soon fade, persisting only above median 
line and at their lower extremities. 

The example taken August 11 is 4 inches long; its longest first 
dorsal ray measures 6 f- inches; the other is 3 inches long, and 
has a filamentous spine measuring 5 inches. 

The lookdown is found on both coasts of tropical America 
and in temperate parts of the Atlantic north to Cape Cod and 
Ijower California. At Woods Hole Mass. it is rare, but a few are 
taken annually in traps and seines, usually in September. 
Storer describes a specimen 5J inches long from New Bedford 
Mass. Mitchill mentions the fish under two names, hair-finned 
dory and rostrated dory, but gives no special locality. De Kay 
calls it the hair-finned argyreiose and notes its appearance in 
New York waters about the latter end of 'August and its cap- 
ture in gill nets. The writer obtained four young examples by 
seining at the Blue Point Lifesaving station Oct. 7, 1890. Aug. 
29, 1898, he took another young individual in the seine at Dun- 
can's creek, Great South bay. 

The fish is interesting only from its silvery colors and singular 
shape, which make it a great attraction for the aquarium. 
Three individuals of the moonfish were obtained from Gravesend 
bay Sep. 8 and 29, 1897. In November they were transferred 
to a tank in which the water was at a temperature of 68° to 70° 
F, and they ,were successfully kept through the winter. 
Genus chloroscombms Girard 

Body oblong ovate, closely compressed, but not elevated; the 
abdomen prominent anteriorly, its curve being much greater 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 437 

than the curve of the back; occiput and thoracic region trench- 
ant; caudal peduncle very narrow, the fin widely forked; scales 
small, smooth; lateral line arched in front, unarmed, or with 
a few small plates; head nearly naked; preorbital low; mouth 
rather small, oblique, lower jaw scarcely projecting, upper jaw 
protractile; maxillary broad, emarginate behind, with a lar^e 
supplemental bone; jaws, vomer and palatines with feeble teeth, 
mostly in single series; first dorsal of feeble spines, connected 
"by membrane; second dorsal and anal long and low, similar, 
much longer than the short abdomen; no finlets. 

219 Chloroscombrus chrysurus (Linnaeus) 
Casabe; Bumper 

Scomber chrysurus Linnaeus, Syst Nat. e d. XII, I, 494, 1766, Charleston. 
Seriola cosmopolita Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 219, 

pi. 259, 1833; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 129, pi. 74, fig. 237, 1842. 
■Chloroscombrus caribbaeus Gieaed, Mex. Bound. Surv. Zool. 21, pi. 9, fig. 

6, 1859, Joseph Island, Texas. 
Micropteryx chrysurus Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 460, 1860. 
Chloroscombrus chrysurus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 437, 1862; Joedan 

& Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 441, 1883; Joedan & Eveemann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 938, 1896, pi. CXLV, fig. 394, 1900. 

The depth of the body is contained two and one third times 
in the length; length of head contained three and three fourths 
times in the length of the body; head rather deep than long; 
opercles very short; snout short; mouth very oblique; maxillary 
reaching anterior margin of eye; eye very large, longer than 
snout, about three in head; chord of curved part of lateral line 
scarcely longer than head, one and two thirds to one and three 
fourths times in length of straight part; lateral line wholly un- 
armed; caudal peduncle longer than deep, its diameter less than 
that of the eye; ventral s very small, fitting into a groove in 
which the vent is situated; pectorals long, falcate, one third the 
length. D. VIII-i; 26; A. II-I, 26. 

Color of upper parts pale greenish; sides of head and body 
silvery iridescent; a nearly square black blotch on caudal pedun- 
cle above; dark spots on opercle and axil of pectoral; inside of 
mouth black; first dorsal translucent with a yellow tinge ante- 
riorly and with minute dusky points, second dorsal translucent 



43S NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

at base, numerous black points anteriorly, margin yellowish^ 
pectoral yellowish, ventral white, preanal spines and connecting 
membrane white, anal translucent at base, rest of fin yellowish 
with a few dusky points. 

The casabe is a small fish of wide distribution along our east 
coast, ranging from Cape Cod to Brazil; it is common in the 
Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean, and in Cuba, but rather rare from 
Charleston northward. The only authority for its occurrence 
in. New York waters till recently has been Cuvier and Valen- 
ciennes, who claimed to have a specimen from New York. De 
Kay did not regard it as a member of the fish fauna. In 1899, 
however, W. I. De Nyse secured several fine examples at Graves- 
end beach, L. I., and one of these, 8 inches long, is now 
in the U. S. National Museum, where it is numbered 49219. 

The fish grows to the length of 10 inches. It has no value as 
food, but is a beautiful species. 

Genus trachinotus Lacep&de 

Body compressed, moderately elevated, the general outline 
ovate; caudal peduncle short and rather slender; abdomen not 
trenchant, shorter than the anal fin; head moderately com- 
pressed, very blunt, the snout abruptly truncate; mouth nearly 
horizontal the maxillary reaching the middle of the eye; premax- 
illaries protractile; maxillary without distinct supplemental 
bone; jaws, vomer and palatines with bands of villiform teeth,, 
which are deciduous with age; preopercle entire in the adult; gill 
rakers short; gill membranes considerably united; spinous dorsal 
represented by six rather low spines, which are connected by 
membrane in the young but are free in the adult. In old speci- 
mens the spines appear small on account of encroachments of 
the flesh, and ultimately often disappear. Second dorsal long,, 
elevated in front; anal opposite to it and similar in form and 
size; two stout, nearly free spines in front of anal, and one con- 
nected with the fin, these often disappearing with age; scales 
small, smooth; lateral line unarmed, little arched; no caudal 
keel. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 439 

When extremely young, the preoperculum is armed at the 
.angle with three large spines, and smaller ones above and below. 
The spinous dorsal is developed as a perfect fin, and teeth are 
present on the jaws and palatine arch. In this stage the species 
has never been described by previous naturalists, and conse- 
quently has received no name, as the corresponding stage of 
NTaucrates (Nauclerus) has. At an early period the 
preopercular spines are absorbed into the substance of the pre- 
operculum and disappear. The spinous dorsal and the teeth are 
still retained. In this condition it remains for some time, the 
spinous dorsal, however, gradually losing its relative size, while 
the soft vertical fins increase. In this stage the species belongs 
to the genus D o 1 i o d o n of Girard. At a later period the 
membrane connecting the dorsal spines has become obsolete, 
and the species then represents the genus Trachynotus, 
as understood by Cuvier and Valenciennes, and others. Finally, 
in old age, the teeth of the jaws, palate, and pharyngeal bones 
have fallen out, and the lobes of the dorsal, anal and caudal 
fins attain their greatest extension and become pointed. This 
final stage has been made known by Holbrook under the new 
generic name ofBothrolaemus. GUP- 

The pseudobranchiae also disappear in old specimens. Some 
of the species of Trachinotus (carolinus etc.) are 
among the most highly valued of our food fishes. Most of them 
are however not of superior quality. 

220 Trachinotus falcatus (Linnaeus) 
Round Pompano; Ovate Pompano 
Labrus falcatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 284, 1758, America. 
The Spinous Dory Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. "Soc. N. Y. I, pi. VI, fig. 10, 

no description. 
Zeus spinosus Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 246, Feb. 1818. 
Trachinotus spinosus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 117, pi. 19, fig. 53, 1842, 

New York harbor. 
Trachinotus rhomooides Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss, VIII, 

407, 1831. 
■Trachinotus fuscus Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. VIII, 410, 1831, Brazil. 
Trachynotus rhomooides Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat Mus. 974, 

1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 139, pi. Ill, fig. 5, 1888, young. 
Trachynotus ovatus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 481, 1860. (in part, not 

Gasterosteus ovatus of Linnaeus); Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 442, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 255, pi. IX, 

fig. 12, 1890. 

x Phila. Acad. Nat. Sci. Proc. 1862, p. 440. 



440 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Pracliinotits falcatus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 941,. 
1896, pi. CXLVI, fig. 396, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 
363, 1S97; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 98, 1898. 

Body broadly ovate, moderately compressed, profile very 
evenly convex from procumbent spine to level of upper edge of 
eye, where it descends almost vertically. The depth of the body 
is contained one and three fifths times in the length ; the length 
of the head is contained three and three fourths times in that 
of the body. The vertical part is about one and one third times 
the eye; the length of snout nearly equal to eye; mouth nearly 
horizontal; maxillary reaching to vertical from middle of eye r 
its length two and two thirds in head; jaws without teeth in 
adult; dorsal spines short and thick, not connected by mem- 
brane in adult; ventrals short, their tips scarcely reaching half 
way to anterior anal spine, three in head; caudal widely forked; 
lobes about two and two thirds in length of body; dorsal and 
anal fins falcate; anterior rays reaching almost to posterior end 
of fins; in adults, dorsal lobe two and two thirds, anal lobe four 
and one half, in length of body. D. VI-I, 19; A. II-I, 18. 

Color, bluish above, silvery below; the fins all bluish with 
lighter tip®. In the young the coloration is different from that of 
the adult. An individual 1^ inches long, taken at Beesleys Point 
N. J. September 2, was mainly silvery when captured, but on 
being placed in a small aquarium almost instantly became dark 
brown, the dorsal and anal nearly black. On the ventrals, the 
anal spines, and the anterior tip of the anal fin was observed the 
usual vermilion, shading into orange. Five young, from 1 inch 
to If inches long, seined August 10 and 11 at Beesleys Point, 
exhibited, after immersion for several days in alcohol, the fol- 
lowing colors: general color silvery, thickly sprinkled with 
dusky; sides wholly or partly suffused with pink; ventrals and 
tip of anterior anal rays orange; dorsal and anal dusky, with a 
narrow, pale marginal band; caudal milk white, the lower lobe 
faintly tinged with yellow; iris pink. 

The ovate pompano inhabits the Atlantic coasts of tropical 
and temperate America; it is common in the West Indies; on 
our east coast it occurs north to Cape Cod and south to Brazil;: 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 441 

young individuals are very common about Cape Cod in summer, 
but no adults are seen. The young, from \ to 1 inch long, ap- 
pear in July, according to Dr Hugh M. Smith, and by September, 
when they disappear, they are two inches long. 13 young, aver- 
aging a little more than 2 inches in length, were obtained at 
Oak Island beach September 30. 

The young of the round pompano are caught occasionally in 
summer in Gravesend bay. Early in September 1897 a small 
one was placed in a tank, where it lived and fed regularly till 
November. The low temperature of the water then killed it. 

Mitchill gives a figure of the fish in the Transactions of the 
Literary and Philosophical Society of New York under the name 
spinous dory, but no description. De Kay calls it the spinous 
trachinote, and describes a specimen 3 inches long from the har- 
bor of New York, taken in September 1817. He mentions it as 
a casual visitor from the south. 

According to Dr Goode the species is known in the south as 
the shore pompano and in the Bermudas as the alewife. About 
the Bermudas this pompano is sometimes very abundant as, in 
1875, a school containing 600 or 700 was seined on the south 
shore of the islands. The fish is highly esteemed there for table 
use. 

The ovate pompano grows to the length of 15 inches and is 
generally prized for food. 

221 Trachinotus argenteus Cuv. & Val. 
Silvery Pompano 

Tracliinotus argenteus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 413, 
1831, New York and Rio Janeiro; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 116, 
1842; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 255, pi. X, fig. 13, 1890; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 944, 1896; Smith, Bull. 
U. S. F. C. XVII, 98, 1898. 

TracMnotus cupreus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 414, 
1831, Martinique. 

Body oblong, compressed, deep, its greatest depth one half of 
total length without caudal, its thickness one fourth the depth 
and nearly one half the length of head; least depth of caudal 
peduncle one sixth of greatest depth; head short, two sevenths 
of total without caudal; eye small, circular, equal to snout, one 






442 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

fourth as long as head; interorbital space convex, its width two 
fifths of length of head; maxilla reaches to below front of pupil; 
mandible reaching to below hind margin of orbit, its length 
equal to snout and eye combined; nostrils nearer to tip of snout 
than to eye, the anterior in a very short tube ; teeth in villif orm 
bands in both jaws, but more developed in the lower than in the 
upper; gill rakers short and stout, the longest about one half 
as long as eye. The origin of spinous dorsal is a little behind 
origin of ventral; the base of the fin equals postorbital length of 
head; the spines are all short, the third, and longest, two thirds 
as long as the eye. The antecedent- spine of the soft dorsal is 
two thirds as long as the eye; the base of the fin equals three 
times the length of snout and eye combined; the longest ray is 
three times as long as the last ray and two thirds as long as the 
head. The middle caudal rays are three sevenths as long as 
the outer rays and one fourth longer than the head. The anal 
origin is under the sixth ray of the soft dorsal; the fin is pre- 
ceded by two short isolated spines and a third closely connected 
with the first ray; the second of the antecedent spines is two 
thirds as long as the eye; the longest ray is two thirds as long 
as the head, and the last ray is about as long as the eye. The 
ventral origin is at a distance from tip of snout equal to one 
third of total length to end of middle caudal rays; the fin 
reaches to the vent and to below the fourth spine of the dorsal. 
The pectoral reaches to below the fifth spine of the dorsal, its 
length equal to length of head without the snout; D. V, I, 24; 
A. II, I, 22; V. I, 5; P. I, 17. Color silvery, with tips of anterior 
part of dorsal black and with blackish on the middle of the pec- 
toral. 

The measurements above are from an example nearly 6 inches 
long, no. 15085, U. S. National Museum, taken at Tompkinsville 
N. Y. Another example 3J inches long, no. 36036, U. S. National 
Museum, was collected at Blue Point cove, L. I. There are a 
number of additional examples in the U. S. National Museum 
from localities south of New York. The individual from Tomp- 
kinsville is almost exactly of the size of the type of the species 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 443 

as recorded by Cuvier and Valenciennes and it agrees perfectly 
with the description of their T. argenteus. These authors 
had two specimens, one from New York and the other from Rio 
Janeiro, each 6 inches long. Dr Jordan, who has examined the 
types of the species, says one of them is a foot long, and that it 
has 25 dorsal rays and 23 rays in the anal. 

There is still some question whether or not the argenteus 
of Cuvier and Valenciennes is the young of T. carolinus 
(Linnaeus). If we consider them identical we must assume that 
the very young, say from 1 inch to 2 inches long, are much more 
elongate than when they reach the length of 3 inches. I am 
unable to decide the question at present, but still incline to the 
belief that the silvery pompano is a distinct species. I have 
examined specimens fully 10 inches long which retain the depth 
of body characteristic of the young, that is, one half of total 
without caudal. 

The example from Blue Point cove, Great South bay, was 
figured by the writer in the 19th report of the N. Y. Fish Com- 
mission, pi. 10, fig. 13. De Kay, in his work on the fishes of New 
York, p. 116, translates the, description of Cuvier and Valen- 
ciennes, not having obtained a specimen of the fish. 

222 Trachinotus carolinus (Linnaeus) 
Common Pompano 

Gasterosteus carolinus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 490, 1766, Carolina. 
Trachinotus pampanus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 415, 

pi. 237, 1831, Brazil, Charleston. 
Trachynotus pampanus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 484, 1860. 
Botlirolaemus pampanus Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. 81, pi. 11, fig. 2, 1856. 
LicMa Carolina De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 114, pi. 10, fig. 30, 1842, off 

Sandy Hook. 
Trachynotus carolinus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 442, 

1883; Bean, Bull. II. S. F. C. VII, 140, 1888, 19th Rep. Coram. Fish. 

N. Y. 254, pi. VIII, fig. 11, 1890. 
Trachinotus carolinus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 944, 

1896. pi. CXLVII, fig. 398, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 

363, 1897, 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 104, 1900; Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. XVII, 98, 1898. 

Body oblong ovate, elevated, profile forming a gentle curve 
from the middle of the back to the snout, where it descends 



444 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

abruptly. The depth of the body is contained two and one third 
times in its length; the length of the head is contained four- 
times in that of the body. Dorsal and anal falcate, their lobes 
reaching when depressed nearly to the middle of the fin; pec- 
toral reaching to opposite the vent. Gill rakers short; slender 
in the young, becoming thick in the adult. Length 18 inches. 
D. VI-I, 25; A. 11-1,23. 

Uniform bluish above, sides silvery, golden in the adult, with- 
out bands, fins plain silvery or dusky. 

This fish has no other name on our east coast except the 
southern variation of pompeynose. In Great South bay the 
name butterfish is applied to it because it is confounded witli 
the Poronotus triacanthus, to which the name 
properly belongs. Mitchill described it under the name thorn- 
backed grunt, a name not now in use. The pompano ranges on? 
our coast from Cape Cod to Florida, the adults rarely or never 
coming into northern waters, but the young are taken in: 
variable numbers every year. At. Woods Hole they sometimes 
occur in considerable numbers, and they have been taken in great 
abundance in Great Egg Harbor bay, but not recently. In 
Great South bay, in 1890, only a single young individual was- 
secured at Oak Island beach on the last day of September. It 
occurs occasionally also on the Pacific coast. Dr De Kay, in 
1842, mentioned it as an exceedingly rare species on the New 
York coast. His description was based on a specimen taken off 
Sandy Hook more than 20 years before. In 1898 young speci- 
mens were found in moderate numbers at Oak Island beach,. 
Great South bay, September 14, and on the east side of Fire 
Island beach September 16. The young are summer and fall 
visitors in Gravesend bay. 22 individuals were placed in a tank 
in August 1897, and grew rapidly till the temperature of the 
water fell below 60° F in November. During this month all of 
them died. 

The species reaches the length of 20 inches. It is one of the 
finest of our food fishes. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 445 

Family pomatomidae 

Blue fishes 
Genus pomatomiis Lacepede 
Body oblong, compressed, covered with rather small scales, 
which are weakly ctenoid; caudal peduncle rather stout; head 
large, compressed; mouth large, oblique; premaxillaries pro- 
tractile; maxillary not slipping under the preorbital, provided 
with a large supplemental bone, lower jaw projecting; bands 
of villiform teeth on vomer and palatines, those on the vomer 
forming a triangular patch; jaws each with a single series of 
very strong, compressed, unequal teeth, widely set, upper jaw 
with an inner series of small depressed teeth; villiform teeth 
on the base of the tongue; occipital keel strong; free edge of 
preopercle produced and serrated; gill membranes free from the 
isthmus, not united; branchiostegals seven; gills four, a slit 
behind the fourth; pseudobranchiae large; gill rakers slender, 
rather few; opercle ending in a flat point, cheek and opercles 
scaly; lateral line present, unarmed; dorsal fins two, the ante- 
rior of about eight weak, low spines connected by membrane 
and depressible in a groove; second dorsal long, similar to the 
elongate anal, both fins being densely scaly; fin rays slender; 
two very small, free anal spines, sometimes hidden in the skin; 
ventrals thoracic, I, 5; peduncle stout; pectorals rather short; 
caudal fin forked, the lobes broad; air bladder simple, with thin 
walls; pyloric caeca very numerous; vertebrae 10+14=24 as usual 
in Carangidae. A single species, found in nearly all warm seas. 

223 Pomatomus saltatrix (Linnaeus) 
Bluefish ; Snap Mackerel; Snapper 

Perca saltatrix Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 293, 1758, Carolina. 

Gasterosteus saltatrix Linnaeus, op. eit. ed. XII, 491, 1766. 

Scomber plumbeus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 424, pi. IV, fig. 

1, 1815. 
Temnodon saltator Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist Nat. Poiss. IX, 225, pL 

260, 1883; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 130, pi. 26, fig. 81, 1842; Hol- 

brook, Ichth. S. C. 62, pi. 9, fig. 2, 1856; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

Mus. II, 479, 1860; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 81, pi. XV, fig. 1, 1867. 
Pomatomus saltator Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 448, 1883. 



446 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Pomatomus saltatrix Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst XI, 20, 1879; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 914, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. 
VII, 145, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 269, pi. XX, fig. 24, 
1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 363, 1897; 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. 
State Mus. 104, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. P. C. XVII, 98, 1898; Mearns, 
BulL Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 319, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 
47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 946, 1896, pi. CXLVIII, fig. 400, 1900; Eugene 
Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 32, 1898. 

Body robust, moderately compressed; belly compressed to a 
bluntish edge. The depth is contained four times in the length 
of the body. Head deep; top of head and a ridge on each side 
above the cheeks naked; cheeks much longer than opercles. 
The length of the head is contained three and one third times 
in the length of the body. Pectorals placed rather low, their 
length a little more than half that of the head. D. VIII-I, 25; 
A. II— I, 26; Lat. 1. 95. Bluish or greenish, silvery below, a 
black blotch at the base of the pectoral. 

Some of the many names applied to this widely distributed 
fish are the following: mackerel (New Jersey), horse mackerel 
(New York and Rhode Island), snapping mackerel (New Eng- 
land and New Jersey), skip mackerel (New York), snapper and 
blue snapper (New England), greenfish (Maryland, Virginia and 
North Carolina), salt-water jack (southern states), tailor (Chesa- 
peake bay), whitefish (Hudson river). Bluefish is the name most 
extensively used on the coast and in the Gulf of Mexico. 

The bluefish ranges on our coast from Maine to the Gulf of 
Mexico, and is believed to frequent warm seas of both conti- 
nents. It has ranged farther to the northward this year than 
for many years before. We have heard of its capture in the 
-vicinity of Mount Desert Me. On our coast and elsewhere its 
movements are erratic, and its abundance fluctuates greatly 
within certain periods; it disappears sometimes altogether for 
a term of years. The young, under about 1 inch in length, 
seem to be unknown. The spawning habits and localities have 
not been recorded. The smallest known examples were ob- 
tained at the surface offshore by the U. S. Fish Commission. 
The writer has seined individuals a little more than an inch 
long at Ocean City N. J. the last of August. The young ascend 
rivers into fresh water. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 447 

This is one of the most destructive of all fishes. It feeds- 
ravenously, and, when gorged with food, continues to destroy 
its victims for the sake of gratifying its killing propensity. It 
follows the great schools of alewives, weakfish, mullets and 
other valuable food fishes along our coast in summer, and the 
young may be discovered in shallow bays and sounds pursuing^ 
the silversides, young herring, anchovies and other fishes smaller 
than themselves. According to De Kay bluefish were unknown 
on the New York coast till about 1810, when a few appeared. 
In 1815 Dr Mitchill wrote: "Young ones are taken plentifully 
with the hook at our wharves by the boys in August." The 
largest mentioned by Mitchill was 13 inches long, 3 inches deep 
and weighed about 14 ounces. The name bluefish was in use 
at the time of Mitchill's report. 

De Kay noticed the gradual disappearance of the weakfish 
with the increasing abundance of bluefish. 

The best known methods of taking bluefish are by trolling at 
the surface with a squid of metal or bone and by heaving and, 
hauling in the surf near the mouths of streams into which ale- 
wives are running. Artificial minnows are also used with a 
light rod, when young bluefish are seen feeding near the surface. 
The most recent method in use by anglers is that of chumming 
in the manner usually employed in striped bass fishing. This 
method, which involves the use of rod and reel, was in use near 
the inlet at Fire Island early in October 1890. During the sum- 
mer, in this bay, it was not an uncommon thing for anglers to 
catch 150 or 200 small bluefish with hook and line in a single 
day. The species is to be found in all parts of the bay visited 
by us. It was taken at the following localities: Blue Point 
cove, Oak Island and Fire Island. Large numbers of bluefish 
were caught late in September by means of gill nets set in the 
ocean near Blue Point Lifesaving station. A fisherman caught 
450 at one time and 250 at another, the dates being Sep. 23 and 
24, 1890. In August of that year bluefish drove immense schools 
of round herring (E t r u m e u s teres) on the ocean beach, 
near the Lifesaving station. September 24, while walking along 
the beach of East Island, not far from the Blue Point station, in 



448 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

a distance of half a mile, I saw 51 round herring lying on the 
beach, having been chased in a short time previously by bluefish. 
When the fishermen find the round herring on the shore, they 
know that bluefish are present. Small bluefish were caught in 
a trap at I slip Oct. 1, 1890. In the summer of 1898 young blue- 
fish were abundant in all the waters visited in Peconic bay and 
Great South bay and were taken as late as October 16. 

During the warm season they often run up the rivers, the 
young, called snappers, frequently into nearly fresh waters. 
(After Eugene Smith 1 ) 

The bluefish is so active in its movements that it is difficult to 
keep it in captivity. As with the species of C a r a n x and 
S e r i o 1 a , however, its longevity depends on range and tem- 
perature; in a large body of water, not colder than 60° in winter, 
it can be maintained easily. 

Family rachycentridae 

Sergeant Fishes 
Genus rachycentron Kaup 
Body elongate, fusiform, subcylindric, covered with very small, 
smooth, adherent scales; lateral line nearly parallel with the 
back; head rather broad, low, pikelike, the bones above appear- 
ing through the thin skin; mouth rather wide, nearly horizontal, 
the maxillary about reaching front of eye; both jaws, vomer, 
palatines and tongue with bands of short, sharp teeth, lower jaw 
longest; premaxillaries not protractile; preopercle unarmed; 
first dorsal represented by about eight low, stout, equal, free 
spines, each depressible in a groove; soft dorsal long and rather 
low, somewhat falcate, similar to and nearly opposite anal; two 
weak anal spines, one of them free from the fin; pectorals mod- 
erate, placed low; ventrals thoracic, I, 5; caudal fin strong, 
forked, on a moderate peduncle; no caudal keel; no finlets; gill 
rakers rather short, stout; no air bladder; branchiostegals seven; 
pyloric caeca branched; vertebrae 12+13=25. Probably only one 
species; a large, strong, voracious shore fish, found in all warm 
seas. Its relations are with the scombroid fishes, though not 

^inn. Soc. N. Y. Troc. 1897. no. 9, p. 32. 



PISHES OF NEW YORK 449 

close xo any of the other groups. The superficial resemblance to 
'E-cheneis, as Dr Gill has shown, is not connected with any 
intimate homology. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

224 Rachycentroii canadus (Linnaeus) 
Crabeater; Cobia 

Gasterosteus canadus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 491, 1766, Carolina. 
Centronotus spinosus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Pnil. Soc. N. Y. I, 490, pi. Ill, 

fig. 9, 1815, New York. 
JSlacate atlantica Cuviek & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VIII, 334, pi. 

233, 1831, Brazil; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 113, pi. 25, fig. 77, 

1842. 
Elacate nigra Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 375, 1860. 
Macate Canada Jordan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 418, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 144, pi. II, fig. 13, 1888, 19th Rep. Coram. 

Fish. N: Y. 270, pi. XX, fig. 25, 1890, (young), Great Egg Harbor Bay. 
RachycentroM canadus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 948, 

1896, pi. CXLVIII, fig. 401, 1900; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 98, 

1898. 

Head much depressed. The length of the head is contained 
four and one fourth times in the length of the body; while the 
width of the body is contained five and two thirds times in its 
length. Mouth moderate, the short maxillary reaching front of 
orbit; pectorals broad and falcate; caudal deeply einarginate, the 
upper lobe slightly the longer; lateral line wavy and irregular, 
descending posteriorly. Length 5 feet. D. VIII-1, 26; A, II, 25. 
Color, olive brown; sides with a distinct broad dark band and a 
less distinct band above and below it; lower parts silvery. 

The crabeater inhabits all warm seas, occasionally appearing 
on our Northern coast in summer and ranging northward to 
Massachusetts bay. Individuals are occasionally taken at 
Woods Hole Mass. 

Dr Mitchill had a specimen of the crabeater which was caught 
in Xew York bay June 11, 1815. He found in its stomach 20 
spotted sand crabs and several young flounders. The fish was 
eaten at his table, and pronounced one of the best he had ever 
tasted. This example was 31 inches long. Dr De Kay styles it 
the northern crabeater. The specimen described by him was 
•captured in Boston harbor, and placed in a live car with other 
:fish, chiefly porgies (Stenotomus c h r y s o p s), and it de- 



450 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

stroyed and ate every fish in the car. Dr A. K. Fisher of Wash- 
ington has found the young of the crabeater in the Hudson near 
Sing Sing. Though we have no specimens of the crabeater from 
Great South bay, there is scarcely a doubt of its occurrence in. 
that body of water. 

A young example, 3J inches long, was caught at Somers Point 
N. J. near the club house, Aug. 2, 1887, by Capt. Richard Cham- 
berlain. Ground color nearly black; a white stripe, about as 
wide as pupil, from upper angle of gill opening to caudal ; another 
one, but narrower, begins at lower extremity of pectoral base, 
curves very slightly upward, fading out near the tail; upper 
caudal lobe with a narrow whitish margin along its upper sur- 
face, relieved by a trace of orange red at its base; lower caudal 
lobe with a narrow orange red margin; pectorals, ventrals, and 
caudal black; back fades to a dark green; belly grayish white; 
iris golden bronze. This species has not previously been re- 
corded from Great Egg Harbor bay, and the young seems not to 
have been described. 

Another example, 4 inches long, was seined in one of the thor- 
oughfares in the bay August 23. This has the same markings as 
the first. The caudal when fully expanded, is rounded, the end 
truncate; there is no emargination as in the adult. A figure of 
the young is published in the bulletin of the U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion, 1888, v. 7, pi. 2, fig. 13. 

Family Coryphaenidae 

Dolphins 

Genus coryphaem Linnaeus 

Body elongate, compressed, covered with small cycloid scales; 
cleft of the mouth wide, oblique, the lower jaw projecting; cardi- 
form teeth in the jaws and on the vomer and palatine bones, a 
patch of villiform teeth on the tongue, no teeth on the esophagus; 
opercular bones entire; skull with a crest which is more elevated 
in the adult than in the young; a single, many-rayed dorsal fin, 
not greatly elevated, extending from the nape nearly to the 
caudal fin; anal similar, but shorter, both without distinct spines; 
pectoral fins very short and small; ventrals well developed* 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 451 

thoracic, I, 5, partly received into a groove in the abdomen; 
caudal fin widely forked; lateral line present; gill membranes 
free from the isthmus; branchiostegals seven; no pseudo- 
branchiae; no air bladder; pyloric appendages very numerous; 
vertebrae about 30. A genus with probably only two species. 
Very large fishes, inhabiting the high seas in warm regions, 
noted for their brilliant and changeable colors. (After Jordan 
and Evermann) 

225 Coryphaena hippurus Linnaeus 
Common Dolphin 

Coryphaena hippurns Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 261, 1758, open seas; 
Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 40'5, 1860; Cuvier & Valenciennes, 
Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 278, pi. 260, 1833; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 914, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 952, 1806, pi. CXLIX, fig. 402, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. 
BCist. 363, 1897; Smith, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. XVII, 99, 1898. 

Coryphaena Mppuris Mitcrtll, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 378, 1815. 

Coryphaena sueurii Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 302, 1833. 

Coryphaena globiceps De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 132, pi. 10, fig. 29, 1842, 
off New York. 

Coryphaena sneuri Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 455, 1883. 

Body elongate, compressed, highest anteriorly, the greatest 
depth equal to length of head and to one fourth of total length 
without caudal; the greatest width about equal to postorbital 
length of head; least hight of caudal peduncle one fourth the 
length of head; maxilla reaching nearly to below end of eye; 
upper jaw equal to snout and eye combined; mandible reaching 
past hind margin of orbit. The profile of the snout becomes 
nearly vertical with age; the male has the forehead elevated, 
forming a crest which projects slightly beyond the upper jaw. 
-Eye small, one half the length of snout, one sixth the length of 
head. The dorsal origin is nearly above the eye; the fin occupies 
the entire back, the longest spines (12th to 14th) equal postorbital 
length of head, the last spine two ninths as long as head. 
Caudal very deeply forked, the middle rays less than one sixth 
as long as the external rays, which are one third as long as the 
dorsal base. The anal begins under the 32d spine of the dorsal; 
its base is as long as the head and pectoral combined, its longest 
ray one third as long as the head, its last ray equal to eye, the 



452 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

fin emarginate anteriorly. The ventral origin is directly under 
the pectoral base and under the 13th spine of the dorsal, its 
length one sixth of total length without caudal. Tlie pectoral 
origin is below the 13th spine of the dorsal; the fin extends to 
below the 23d spine, its length equal to length of head without 
snout. D. 56-64; A. 25-30; V. I, 5; P. I, 19. Scales about 175; 
gill rakers 10, all below angle, the longest one half as long as 
the eye. 

Colors in life brilliant, changing suddenly at death; greenish 
above, white or golden below, with bright blue spots, the largest 
on the back and head, forming bands on the snout; dorsal pur- 
plish blue, with pale longitudinal lines; other fins tinged with 
blue; caudal yellow; in spirits, silvery with blackish spots, 
smaller than the pupil, on the sides below the lateral line. 

The dolphin inhabits all warm seas; it is common in the Gulf 
of Mexico, and its summer range includes Cape Cod. Large 
individuals are rare in Vineyard sound, but the young, from 2 to 
12 inches long, are observed nearly every year in floating gulf 
weed, usually in July and August. 

Mitchill mentions the species without referring to a particular 
specimen; but De Kay states that an individual 42 inches long 
was captured off the harbor of New York and presented to the 
Lyceum of Natural History. An example, 17 inches long and 2} 
inches deep, was caught off Sandy Hook late in August 1897 by 
a fisherman while trolling for bluefish. 

The dolphin attains to the length of 6 feet. It is an excellent 

food fish. 

226 Coryphaena equisetis Linnaeus 

Smull Dolphin 

Coryphaena equisetis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 261, 1758, high seas; 
Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 297, pi. 267, 1833; Gun- 
ther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 407, 1860; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 914, 1883; Jordan & Eyeemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 953, 1896. 

Jjimpugus punotulatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. IX, 327, 1833; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 134, pi. 11, fig. 31, 1842. 

Coryphaena punctulata Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 454, 
1883, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK * 453 

This is said to be the Lampugus punctulatus of 
Cuvier and Valenciennes, 1 to which is ascribed the following 
characters. Hight of body contained nearly five times in its 
length; head five and one fourth times; depth of head five 
sevenths of its length; profile obliquely descending; pectorals 
one tenth of total length; ventrals one eighth; caudal lobes one 
fifth; 10 or 12 posterior rays of dorsal and anal dilated at their 
extremities and projecting beyond the connecting membrane. 
Color silvery, blackish on the back, with a few small black dots 
on the body. D. 51; A. 25; V. I, 5; P. 19. 

The specimen described is 13 inches long. It was taken in the 
Atlantic at the equator. 

De Kay has described a dolphin measuring 2 feet which was 
taken on a hook at the light-ship off the harbor of New York 
and which he supposed to be identical with the species just men- 
tioned. The characters of the fish are given as follows. Length 
of head rather less than one eighth of total length; hight of 
body one eighth and of caudal peduncle at its lowest part one 
twentieth of total; eye large, its length contained four and four 
sevenths times in length of head and more than one diameter 
distant from tip of snout; dorsal fin beginning just behind the 
orbit, its last 10 or 12 rays somewhat elevated and projecting 
beyond the connecting membrane; pectoral origin under ninth 
dorsal spine; the fin one twelfth of total length including 
caudal; ventral length contained nine and three fifths times in 
total; anal origin nearly midway between posterior margin of 
orbit and base of caudal. Length 24 inches; head 3J inches; 
hight 3 inches. D. 53; A. 25; V. I, 5; P. 20. 

Color sea green above the lateral line; silvery on the sides, 
with metallic reflections on the opercles; iris yellowish; dark 
reddish brown stripes across the head; a series of distant 
rounded spots along the base of the dorsal fin; a few scattering 
ones on the back part of the head, and confused series of 
similar spots on the sides below the lateral line; dorsal, pec- 
torals and ventrals brown; anal and caudal fins light colored. 

1 Hist Nat. Poiss. 1833. 9:327, 



454 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Jordan and Everniann, in Bulletin 47, U. 8. National Museum, 
p. 953, state that the small dolphin is not recorded from the 
coast of the United States; but that it inhabits the open At- 
lantic and occurs rarely in the West Indies. De Kay, however, 
described a dolphin, above mentioned, which appears to agree 
with the published descriptions of the Coryphaena equi- 
s e t i s Linnaeus ; and there is no reason to suppose that this 
pelagic species does not occasionally visit our shores. It is true 
that all the young dolphins from the New England and New 
York coasts examined by me belong to the larger species; but 
materials for study are scarce, and it is unwise to base a con- 
clusion on insufficient investigation. 

Family centrolophidae 
Rudderfishes 
Genus palinurichthys Bleeker 
Body oblong, ovate, moderately compressed; profile very blunt 
and convex; mouth moderate; maxillary narrow, with a small 
supplemental bone; premaxillaries protractile, little movable; 
jaws nearly equal, each with about one series of small, slender 
teeth; no teeth on vomer or palatines; preoperculum, interoper- 
culum, and suboperculum finely serrated; gill rakers long; gill 
membranes separate, free from the isthmus; scales small, 
smooth, larger, thicker, and more adherent than in Strom a - 
t-eus ; cheeks scaly; fins rather low; dorsal fin long, preceded 
by six to eight short, subequal, rather strong spines, the last 
ones connected by membrane, the others nearly free, all much 
lower than the soft rays; anal fin similar but shorter, preceded 
by three spines, which, like the dorsal spines, are nearly em- 
bedded in thick skin; vertical fins densely scaly toward their 
bases; caudal fin emarginate; caudal peduncle stout; ventral fins 
large, thoracic, I, 5; pectoral fins moderate, rounded, or falcate. 

227 Palinurichthys perciformis (Mit chill) 
Rudderfish; Black Pilot 

Coryphaena perciformis Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 244, Feb. 1818, New 

York Harbor. 
Palinurus perciformis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 118, pi. 24, fig. 75, 1842; 

Stoeek, Hist. Fish. Mass. 74, pi. XIII, fig. 3, 1867. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 455 

Pammelas perciformis Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 485, 1860. 

Lirus perciformis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 452, 1883. 

Palinuriclithys perciformis Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 20, 1860; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 964, 1896; Goode & Bean, 
Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 16, 1879; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus, Nat. Hist. IX, 
363, 1897; Smith, Bull. U. S..F. C. XVII, 99, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. 
Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 104, 1900. 

Body ovate, compressed, its depth two fifths of its length 
without the caudal; head short, blunt, its profile convex, its 
length two sevenths of the total without caudal; mouth moder- 
ate; maxillary narrow, reaching to opposite front of pupil; a 
small supplemental bone; eye with adipose eyelid; eye nearly 
equal to snout, two ninths as long as the head; top of head scale- 
less; cheeks scaly; jaws nearly equal, each with about one series 
of small, slender teeth, no teeth on vomer or palatines; gill 
rakers long; pectorals nearly as long as the head. D. VIII, 20; 
A. Ill, 16. Lateral line 75. Blackish green, everywhere dark, 
the belly almost similar and not silvery, sides often mottled 
with linear blotches. Length 1 foot. 

The rudderfish is found on the Atlantic coast of North 
America from Maine to Cape Hatteras; usually off shore under 
drifting logs, boxes and other objects, but occasionally entering 
bays; one specimen was taken off Cornwall, having drifted 
across the Atlantic. The rudderfish is rare in Gravesend bay. 
One or two will usually appear there during the summer, but 
some years none are seen. The fish is common 2 or 3 miles off 
shore, and its capture with a dip net is not difficult. Numerous 
young and half grown examples were so taken off Southampton 
L. I. Aug. 3, 1898, and a fine adult was captured by Capt. George 
Yarrington in Clam Pond cove, Great South bay, Oct. 11, 1898. 

Aug. 4, 1901, a school of rudderfish numbering about 50 was 
seen at the dock at Water Island, Great South bay, and one of 
them was obtained for the state museum. 

Family stromateidae 

Harvestfishes 

Genus rhombus Lacepede 

Body ovate or suborbicular, strongly compressed, tapering 

into a slender caudal peduncle, which is not keeled or shielded; 






456 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

head short, compressed, the profile obtuse; mouth small, ter- 
minal, the jaws subequal; premaxillaries not protractile; jaws 
each with a single series of weak teeth; scales very small, 
cycloid, silvery, loosely inserted, extending on the vertical fins; 
opercular bones entire; gill membranes separate, free from the 
isthmus; gill rakers moderate; lateral line continuous, concur- 
rent with the back; dorsal fin long, more or less elevated in 
front, preceded by a few indistinct spines — usually one or more 
procumbent spines in front of dorsal and anal, each of these 
with a free point both anteriorly and posteriorly; anal fin 
similar to dorsal, or shorter, usually with three small spines; 
ventral fins wanting; a single small, sharp spine, attached to the 
pubic bone, occupying the place of the ventrals; pectorals long 
and narrow; caudal widely forked. Species few, mostly Ameri- 
can. This genus differs from Stromateus chiefly in the 
prominence of the pelvic bone, which projects as a lamina 
beyond the skin. (After Jordan and Evermann) 

Subgenus rhombus 

228 Rhombus paru (Linnaeus) 

Harvest fish; Pappy fish 

Stromateus paru Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 248, 1758, Jamaica; Jordan 

& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 914, 1883. 
Chaetodon alepidotus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 460, 1766, Charleston. 
Stromateus alepidotus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U.S. Nat. Mus. 451, 1883. 
Stromateus longipinnis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 366, 1815, 

New York Bay. 
Rhombus longipinnis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 401, 

pi. 274, 1833; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 136, pi. 75, fig. 239, 1842. 
Stromateus gardenii Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 399, 1860. 
Rhombus paru Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 965, 1896, 

pi. CL, fig. 404, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 364, 1897; 

Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. XVII, 99, 1898. 

Body ovate or suborbicular, strongly compressed, its greatest 
depth about three fourths of its length without the caudal; 
caudal peduncle short and slender, its least depth contained two 
and three fifths times in the length of the short head; mouth 
very small, oblique, the maxilla reaching to below front of eye; 
no pores along side of back; eye round, as long as the snout, 
and about one fourth as long as the head; profile of head very 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 457 

obtuse; dorsal origin a little behind pectoral origin, base of 
dorsal almost equal to greatest depth of body, front of fin ele- 
vated, the longest ray as long as the pectoral, its length con- 
tained two and three fifths times in total length without caudal; 
anal base nearly as long as dorsal base, the longest anal ray 
much longer than the pectoral, the last dorsal and anal rays 
very short, scarcely two thirds as long as the eye, caudal deeply 
forked, its lobes equal, the longest rays as long as the pectoral. 
Scales small, thin and deciduous. D. IV to V, 45; A. II, 43. 
Scales about 90; vertebrae 15+15. 

Color greenish above, golden yellow below. Mitchill gives the 
following description: "silvery, with tints of blue, green and 
iridescent; dusky on the head, and with inky patches on the 
belly towards the tail, which in certain lights appear beauti- 
fully red and purple; back bluish, with occasional clouds." 

The harvestfish inhabits the West Indies and is found on our 
Atlantic coast from Cape Cod southward, ranging to Brazil. 
The young are frequently seen swimming beneath the Portu- 
guese men-of-war. 

De Kay had several specimens of the species, but found it less 
common than the short-finned harvestfish, R. triacanthus. 
At Charleston the fish is called rudderfish. 

The species reaches a length of 8 inches. It is a valuable 
food fish. It is a summer visitor in Gravesend bay and is some- 
times rare, but was formerly abundant there. It is not adapted 
to a captive life. At Woods Hole Mass. Dr Smith reports it as 
usually rare, but occasionally common. As a rule only three 
or four are taken in a season, but one year 300 or 400 were 
obtained. It occurs mostly in June and July, associated with 
the butterfish, R. triacanthus. 

Subgenus poronotus Gill 

229 Rhombus triacanthus (Peck) 

Butterfish; Harvestfish 

Stromateus triacantlws Peck, Mem. Amer. Acad. II, part 2, 48, pi. 2, fig. 2, 
1800, Piscataqua River, N. H.; Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 451, 1883; Guntheb, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 398, I860. 



458 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Stromateus cryptosus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 365, pi. I, 

fig-. 3, 1815. New York Bay. 
Rhombus triacairlhiis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 137, pi. 26, fig. 80, 1842; 

Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. pi. XV, fig*. 4, 1867; Jordan & Evermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 967, 1896, pi. CL, fig. 405, 1900; Bean, Bull. 

Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 363, 1897; Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. XVII, 99, 

1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State Mus. 104, 1900. 
Poronotus triacantlins Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 16, 1879; Bean, 

Bull. IT. S. F. G VII, 140, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 257, 

pi. XI, fig. 14, 1890. 

Body oval, much compressed. The depth is contained two 
and one third times in the length. Dorsal and ventral outlines 
about equally curved. The length of the head is contained four 
times in that of the body. Snout very blunt, rounded in profile; 
mouth small, the maxillary not reaching the orbit; caudal 
peduncle very short; anterior rays of dorsal and anal little ele- 
vated; lateral line high, a series of conspicuous pores above it 
near the base of the dorsal; pectorals much longer than head; 
gill rakers rather long, two thirds the diameter of the eye, 
which is four in head. Length 10 inches. D. Ill, 45; A. Ill, 38. 
Bluish above, below silvery. Maine to Cape Hatteras; very 
abundant. 

This is known as the dollarfish, harvestfish and lafayette. 
Mitchill called it the cryptous broad shiner, and De Kay described 
it under the name short-finned harvestfish. About Cape Cod it 
is the sheepshead and skipjack. In Connecticut it is called 
pumpkin seed and at Norfolk starfish. 

The butterfish ranges from Maine to South Carolina, and is 
gradually replaced southward by the long-finned harvestfish, 
Rhombus par u. It is a summer visitor, associated with 
the mackerel. De Kay records it in New York bay July 1, and 
obtained it from fyke nets in New York harbor as late as Octo 
ber 12. We seined young examples at Blue Point Lifesaving 
station October 7, and others were secured September 30 at Oak 
Island beach. It is taken chiefly in pound nets, and has recently 
become a highly prized market fish. A few years ago it was 
little esteemed. The young are to be found in the summer 
months swimming at the surface in sheltered bays and fre- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 459 

quently under the shelter of the streamers of jellyfishes, where 
they are sometimes destroyed by the lasso cells of their host. 

The harvestfish is present in Gravesend bay from April to 
November. Adults were taken at Southampton beach Aug. 1 
and Aug. 3, 1898. The fish was not found in Great South bay 
during the summer and fall of 1898. 

Group PERCOIDEA 

Perclilike Fishes 
Family cemtrarchidae 
Simfislbes 
Genus pomoxys Rafinesque 
Body more or less elongate, strongly compressed, the snout 
projecting; mouth large, oblique; maxillary broad, with a well 
developed supplemental bone; teeth on vomer, palatines, ento- 
pterygoids and tongue; lower pharyngeals narrow, with sharp 
teeth; gill rakers long and slender, numerous; opercle emar- 
ginate; preopercle and preorbital finely serrated; scales large, 
feebly ctenoid; fins large, the anal larger than dorsal, of six 
spines and about 17 rays; dorsal with six to eight graduated 
spines, the spinous dorsal shorter than the soft part; caudal fin 
emarginate; pectorals rounded or obtusely pointed, with 15 or 
16 rays, the upper longest; ventrals close together, each with a 
strong spine; branchiostegals seven; lateral line complete, the 
tubes straight and extending at least on the anterior half of the 
exposed surface of the scale; posterior processes of the premax- 
illaries not extending to the frontals; supraoccipital and pari- 
etal crest very strong, produced forward on the frontals to be- 
tween the orbits; vertebrae 18+15=33. 

230 Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque 
Grapple 

Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pliila. I, 417, pi. 17, 
fig. 1, 1818, Ohio River "Silver perch or Goldring"; Jordan & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 464, 1883; Bean, Fishes, Penna. 103, pi. 30, 
fig. 59, 1893; Jordan & EveRmann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 987, 1896, 
pi. CLIV, fig. 415, 1900. 

Pomoxis nitidus Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 200, 1857 or, U. S. Pac. 
R. R. Exp. Fish. 6, pi. 2, figs. 5-8, 1858; Gdnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 
I, 257, 1859. 



460 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

In the crappie the depth of the body is two fifths of the total 
length, not including the tail. The length of the head is one 
third of the total. The mouth is oblique and larger than in the 
calico bass. The eye is about equal to the snout and nearly one 
fourth the length of the head. The upper jaw nearly one half 
the length of head; the maxilla reaches slightly beyond the mid- 
dle of the eye. The longest rays of the dorsal and anal are 
about one half as long as the head. The pectoral is longer 
than the ventral and reaches only to above the origin of the 
anal. The ventral when laid back reaches to the vent. D. VI, 
16; A. VI, 17. Scales 7-45-13. There is considerable variation 
in the number of spines and rays in the dorsal .and anal fins. 

Color clear silvery olive, the sides mottled with dark greenish 
blotches. On the upper part of the body are traces of narrow 
vertical bars. The dorsal and caudal are mottled, but the anal 
is usually uniform pale. 

Among the many names which have been applied to the crap- 
pie are: bachelor, newlight, campbellite, sac-a-lait, bridge perch, 
strawberry perch, chinquapin perch, speckled perch, tin perch, 
goggle-eye, John demon, shad, white croppie and timber croppie. 

In the lower Mississippi valley the crappie is one of the most 
common fishes. It is abundant also in the Ohio valley and oc- 
curs rarely in Lake Erie. The Ohio, Illinois and Mississippi 
rivers are particularly noted for an abundance of crappies, and 
the fish is very plentiful in Lake Pontchartrain, La.., where it is 
one of the most highly prized of the smaller game fishes. 

Dr Meek did not obtain the crappie in the Cayuga lake basin, 
but says it may be found in the canal near Montezuma, where 
the calico bass is said to be frequently taken. 

The crappie is a very general favorite for pond culture, can be 
readily transported and under favorable conditions multiplies 
prodigiously. Its range has been very much extended by arti- 
ficial means. The best distinguishing marks between the crap- 
pie and the calico bass are the more elongated form of the 
crappie, the presence of six spines in the dorsal and the nearly 
uniform whitish color of the anal. In the crappie the greatest 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 461 

depth of the body is usually contained two and one half times in 
the total length without the tail, while in the calico bass the 
depth equals one half the length. These two species are so 
similar in size and habits that they are rarely distinguished 
except by ichthyologists. 

The crappie grows to a length of about 1 foot and usually 
weighs 1 pound or less; but in a lake near St Louis an individual 
weighing 3 pounds has been recorded. 

Crappie fishing usually begins in June and lasts till the com- 
ing of cold weather. Large numbers of these fish are collected 
near Quincy 111. for distribution to other waters. At Peoria 111. 
Prof. Forbes has taken them in March and April ; he has found 
them also in Pistakee lake and at Ottawa. Cedar lake, Ind. and 
King's lake, Mo. are celebrated crappie waters. Near Coving- 
ton Ky. in private ponds belonging to Joseph Schlosser there 
are myriads of crappies as well as other game fishes. 

Prof. S. A. Forbes has studied the feeding habits of the 
crappie, and finds that the young live chiefly on entomostraca 
and small insect larvae. The adults subsist on the same food 
when obtainable, but in times of scarcity they feed to some 
extent on other fishes. Small minnows and darters have been 
found in their stomachs. In the autumn Prof. Forbes has 
found a larger percentage of small fishes, sometimes constitut- 
ing nearly two fifths of their food. The hellgramite is eaten 
by the crappie. In cold weather it does not consume one fourth 
the amount of food which it takes in the early spring. The 
crappie prefers still waters, thriving even in warm and muddy 
water, and has been taken in large numbers in midsummer at 
depths of only a few feet; in cold weather it retires to deeper 
water, becomes rather sluggish and takes little food. Dr Hen- 
shall states that the crappie is found about dams and in deep 
still parts of streams and ponds, specially about logs, brush and 
drift. 

The crappie is a very free biter and can be caught readily with 
minnows or worms. Spoon bait has been successfully used in 
trolling for this species. It is recorded that two men have 



462 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

taken a thousand crappies in three days' fishing with hook and 
line. As the fish is gregarious, congregating in large schools, 
and fearless, it can be taken in the immense numbers given. 
The best bait for crappie is a small shiner. It rises well also 
to the artificial fly. As a food fish this is one of the best in our 
inland waters, and its adaptability for life in artificial ponds 
should make it a favorite with fish culturists. 

231 Pomoxis sparoides (Lacep&de) 
Calioo Bass; Strawberry Bass 

Labrus sparoides Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. III, 517, 1802, South Carolina. 
Cantharus nigromaculatus Le Sueur, in, Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. 

Nat. Poiss. Ill, 88, 1829, Wabash River. 
Centrarchus hexacantMis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat Poiss. VII, 

458, 1831, Charleston, S. C; Kirtland, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. Ill, 480, 

pi. XXIX, fig. 2, 1841; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 257, 1859. 
Pomotis hexacantJius Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. 15, pi. 3, fig. 1, 1856. 
Pomoxys sparoides Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 465, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 102, color pi. 9, 1893. 
Pomoxis sparoides Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 312, 1888; Bollman, Rep't. 

U. S. F. C. XVI, 559, pi. 68, fig. 2, 1892; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 

47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 987, 1896, pi. CLIV, fig. 416, 1900; Eugene Smith, 

Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. for 1897, 33, 1898. 

The calico bass has the depth about one half the length, not 
including the tail, the head about one third. The mouth is very 
oblique and smaller than in the crappie. The eye is as long as 
the snout and one fourth as long as the head. The maxilla 
reaches to slightly beyond the middle of the eye. The dorsal 
and anal fins are very high; the longest rays are half as long 
as the head. The pectoral is as long as the ventral, slightly 
shorter than the longest ray of the dorsal. The ventral reaches 
to third anal spine. D. VII, 15; A. VI, 17-18. Scales 7-42-15. 
The sides are olivaceous with silvery reflections and mottled 
with pale green. The dorsal, anal and caudal show pale spots 
surrounded by green reticulations. 

The calico bass, on account of its wide distribution and vari- 
ability, has received a profusion of names. Many of these are 
variations of the term bass. It is known, for example, as straw- 
berry bass, grass bass, lake bass, Lake Erie bass, bank lake bass, 
silver bass, and big-fin bass. Other names for the species are 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 463 

strawberry perch, chinquapin perch, goggle-eye perch, silver 
perch and sand perch. Still other names of local application are 
barfish, bitter head, tinmouth, sac-a-lait, lamplighter, razor- 
back, goggle-eye, black croppie and lake croppie. The species 
is mentioned in the fish laws of Pennsylvania under the name 
of Lake Erie bass or grass bass. 

The distribution of the calico bass is naturally extensive, and 
it has been still further increased by artificial introduction. 
The fish has been carried to France, and examples measuring 
about 8 inches in length were recorded there several years ago. 
There is, however, some confusion in that country between the 
calico bass and the common sunfish, and there is no doubt that 
some of the latter species have been introduced into Germany 
under the mistaken belief that they were calico bass. 

This bass is indigenous east of the Alleghanies from New 
Jersey southward to Georgia. It abounds in the Great lakes 
region, Mississippi valley south to Louisiana, most common 
northward / and occurs in the Missouri. In the Ohio valley 
it was rather uncommon till its introduction in large numbers. 
It was introduced into the Susquehanna river by the Pennsyl- 
vania Fish Commission, and has become acclimatized there; also 
into the Monongahela, the Lehigh, and other waters. 

Fishermen of the region about Montezuma informed Dr Meek 
that the fish is frequently taken from the canal near that place, 
where it is known as calico bass. The U. S. Fish Commission 
obtained two examples in Long pond, at Charlotte N. Y. Aug. 17, 
1894. 

This bass grows to a length of about 1 foot and a maximum 
weight of nearly 3 pounds, but the average weight is about 
1 pound. It spawns in the spring, and the close season in some 
states extends to June 1. Gravid females were caught near 
Havre de Grace Md. in May. These were taken in the Susque- 
hanna and Tidewater canal^ where the species is becoming 
rather abundant. The food of the calico bass consists of worms, 
small crustaceans and fishes. Though a native of deep, sluggish 
waters of western rivers and lakes, it readily adapts itself to 



464 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

cold, rapid streams and thrives even in small brooks. The 
species is suitable also for pond life and may be kept in small 
areas of water provided they have sufficient depth. It does not 
prey on other fishes, and its numerous stiff spines protect it from 
larger predaceous species. It swims in large schools and is 
often found in comparatively shoal water. The nest-building 
habits have been described by Duclos from observations made 
at Versailles, France. This writer unfortunately had under 
observation both the calico bass and the common sunfish, and 
his statements need comfirmation. The game qualities of this 
bass are noteworthy. It is a free, vigorous biter, its endurance 
is rather remarkable considering its size; as a, food fish the 
species is highly prized, and its increase in eastern rivers is 
greatly to be desired. 

Genus acantharchus Gill 
Body oblong, robust, not much compressed or elevated; 
mouth not very large, the broad maxillary with a well developed 
supplemental bone; lower jaw projecting; teeth on vomer, pala- 
tines, pterygoids and tongue, lingual teeth in a single patch, 
pharyngeal teeth sharp; gill rakers few, rather long and strong; 
opercle emarginate; preopercle entire; scales cycloid, large; 
lateral line complete; dorsal spines usually 11; anal spines five; 
caudal fin rounded behind. Close toAmbloplites, differ- 
ing chiefly in the rounded caudal. One species known. 

232 Acantharchus pomotis (Baird) 
Mud Sunfish 

Centrarclvus pomitis Baird, Ninth Smithson. Rep't, 325, 1855, New Jersey, 
New York; Gtjnther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 256, 1859. 

Acantliarclius pomotis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 469, 
1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 143, 1888; Fishes Penna. 107, 1893; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 989, 1896, pi, CLV, 
fig. 418, 1900; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. for 1897, 34, 1898. 

The mud sunfish has an oblong and moderately elongate body, 
its greatest depth, near the vent, two fifths of the total length 
without the caudal. The greatest thickness is a little less than 
one half the depth. The caudal peduncle is short and deep, its 
least depth two fifths of greatest depth of body. The head 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 465 

is moderately large, rather more than one third of total length 
without the caudal, its width equal to the length of its postorbi- 
tal part. The snout is very short and obtuse, its length about 
one half that of the eye. The eye is placed high, its diameter 
contained three and two thirds times in the length of the head. 
The interorbital space is slightly convex, its width three fourths 
the length of the eye. The mouth is large, the maxilla broadly 
expanded behind and reaching nearly to below the hind margin 
of the eye. A well developed supplemental maxillary bone, two 
thirds as long as the eye. Six rows of scales on the cheeks. 
The operculum ends in two thin, flat points, between which 
there is a black spot, about two fifths as long as the eye. Gill 
rakers short and few, five developed on the first arch, the long- 
est two fifths as long as the eye. The spinous dorsal begins 
over the fifth scale of the lateral line; its base is as long as 
the head without the snout. The first spine is very short, one 
half as long as the eye; the spines increase very gradually in 
length to the last, which is as long as the eye and snout 
combined. The soft dorsal base is two thirds as long as that 
of the spinous dorsal; its rays are longer than the spines, the 
longest (fourth to sixth) about one half as long as the head. 
The anal begins under 18th scale of the lateral line; the first 
spine one half as long as the eye; the spines increase in length 
to the last, which is one third as long as the head; the rays are 
long, the longest (fourth) equal to postorbital length of head. 
The ventral reaches to the vent. The pectoral reaches to below 
the 15th scale of the lateral line. The caudal is rounded, its 
middle rays five sevenths as long as the head. The lateral line 
is complete and runs parallel to the dorsal outline. D. XII, 11; 
A. VI, 10; V.I, 5; P. 14. Scales 6-43-12. In spirits the color 
is dark brown; two or three dusky stripes on the sides below 
the lateral line; a dark shade around the nape extending back- 
ward behind the eye; two dark stripes across the cheeks and 
operculum; a dark opercular flap as described above; the fins 
unspotted. In life the fish is dark green. The example 
described, no. 17844 U, S. National Museum, from New Jersey, 



466 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

is 4J inches long. It has more dorsal and anal spines than are 

usually present in this sunfish. 

The colors of living specimens were described by Prof. Baird 

as follows: 

Dark greenish olive, with three or four irregular longitudinal 
bands of dull greenish yellow, and occasionally cloudy spots of 
golden green. Sides of the head of this color, with three indis- 
tinct brands of dark olive. Iris purplish brown; cornea olive 
green. Fins quite uniform, very dark greenish olive, with 
darker margins, except the pectorals, which are light olivaceous, 
and the ventrals, the spinous rays of which are uncolored. 
Some specimens may be better described as dark golden green, 
with longitudinal bands of dark olive, broken up by cloudings 
of greenish. 

Baird called it the bass sunfish because of its resemblance in 
shape to some of the basses. The species ranges from New 
York to North Carolina in sluggish streams near the coast. 
Baird collected it in Rockland county, N. Y. Eugene Smith took 
it in the upper Hackensack valley. Baird found it not rare in 
Cedar Swamp creek, near Beesleys Point N. J. in 1854; and the 
writer obtained a single individual in Gravelly run, not far from 
that locality, in 1887, associated with the pirate perch, striped 
mud minnow, barred killifish and young pickerel. 

The mud sunfish reaches a length of 6 inches. It prefers 
muddy water and may even lie embedded in mud. Eugene 
Smith says it is shy, seclusive and nocturnal in its habits. 

Genus AMBiiOPMTEs Rafinesque 
Body oblong, moderately elevated, compressed; mouth large, 
the broad maxillary with a well developed supplemental bone, 
lower jaw projecting; teeth on vomer, palatines, tongue, ento- 
pterygoids and ectopterygoids, lingual teeth in a single patch, 
pharyngeal teeth sharp; branchiostegals six; opercle ending in 
two flat points; preopercle serrate at its angle; other membrane 
bones chiefly entire; gill rakers rather long and strong, dentate, 
less than 10 in number, developed only on the lower part of the 
arch; scales large, somewhat ctenoid; lateral line complete, the 
tubes occupying at least the anterior half of the surface of the 
scale; dorsal fin much more developed than the anal fin, with 10 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 46T 

or 11 rather low spines; anal spines normally six; pectorals 
obtusely pointed with 14 or 15 rays, the upper longest; caudal 
fin emarginate. 

233 Ambloplites rupestris (Rafinesque) 
RocJc Bass; Redeye 

Bodianus rupestris Rafinesque, Am. Month. Mag. II, 120, Dec. 1817, Lakes 
of New York, Vermont & Canada. 

Ciclila aenea Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. II, 214, pi. 12, 1822, Lake 
Ontario. 

Centrarchus aeneus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 84, 1829; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 27, pi. 2, fig. 4, 1842, Lake Champlain, 
Great Lakes, streams of western New York, Hudson River; Stoker, 
Syn. Fish. N. A. 37, 1846. 

Ambloplites rupestris Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 466, 1883; 
Bean, Fishes Penna. 105, color pi. 10, 1893; Evermann & Kendall, 
Rept U. S. F. C. for 1894; 600, 1896; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 990, 1896, pi. CLVI, figs. 419, A, B, C; Meek, Ann. N. Y. 
Ac. Sci. IV, 313, 1898; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. for 1897, 
33, 1898; Mearns, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 319, 1898; Bean, 521 
Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 104, 1900. 

The rock bass has a robust oblong body; its depth is con- 
tained two and one third times in the total length without 
caudal, the head two and four fifths in this same length. The 
caudal peduncle is stout, almost as deep as long. The dorsal 
profile is rather steep; strongly concave over eye. The eye 
is large, about one fourth the length of head, equal to snout. 
The mouth is large, the maxillary reaching to vertical from 
posterior end of pupil. The heavy lower jaw projects slightly. 
The vomer, palatines, tongue and pterygoid bones all toothed; 
the teeth on the tongue in a single patch. The pharyngeal 
teeth are sharp. The opercle ends in two flat points ; preopercle 
serrated at its angle. Gill rakers long and strong, less than 
10 in number; six branchiostegals; scales large, those on the 
cheeks in about eight rows; caudal rather deeply emarginate. 
The dorsal base is about one and one half times as long as that 
of the anal. The spines of both fins are stout and rather short. 
The first spine of the dorsal is over the seventh scale of the 
lateral line, and the last spine is over the 25th scale. The first 
soft ray is over the 26th scale, and the last ray over the 35th. 
The anal origin is under the middle of the spinous dorsal, and 



468 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the last anal ray is opposite the last dorsal ray. First dorsal 
spine shortest, one half the length of longest spine, which is 
about three fifths as long as the longest ray. The spines and 
rays of the anal are in about the same proportion to each other 
as those of the dorsal, the first spine being the shortest and the 
longest about three fifths as long as the longest anal ray. The 
soft parts of the dorsal and anal are high and rounded. The 
pectoral is rather short and broad. The ventral long and 
slender, directly under base of pectoral. The lateral line is 
complete, placed high on body and follows the contour of the 
back. D. XI, 11; A. VI, 11. Scales 5-46-14. 

Color olive green with a brassy tinge and much dark mottling; 
the young are pale or yellowish, irregularly barred and blotched 
with black; adults with a dark spot at the base of each scale, 
these spots forming interrupted black stripes; a dark spot on 
the opercle; soft dorsal, anal, and caudal fins with dark mot- 
tlings; iris golden overlaid with crimson. 

The rock bass is known under a variety of names. Among 
them are the following: redeye, red-eyed perch, goggle-eye and 
lake bass. It is found in Lower Canada, Vermont and through- 
out the Great lakes region, west to Manitoba, and it is native in 
Minnesota and Dakota; southward it ranges through the Mis- 
sissippi valley to Texas. In the Ohio valley it is very common, 
while in the Middle Atlantic states, east of the Alleghanies, it 
has probably been introduced. Its existence in the Susque- 
hanna has been known for many years. Whether it is indige- 
nous in Pennsylvania waters is uncertain. It has been intro- 
duced into some parts of Virginia, while in other portions of 
that state it is native. It is indigenous in North Carolina. Its 
distribution in Pennsylvania has been greatly extended by 
artificial introduction, and it is now well established in the 
Delaware, specially in its upper waters. De Kay records it from 
Lake Champlain, the Great lakes and the larger streams in the 
western counties of New York. Meek says it is a very common 
and well known species in the Cayuga lake basin. In the Passaic 
river and other waters it is an introduced species. Evermann 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 469 

and Bean obtained a specimen in Scioto creek, Coopersville N. Y. 
July 19, 1894. In the Lake Ontario region the U. S. Fish Com- 
mission collectors secured it at the following localities in New 
York state in 1894 and previous years. 

Marsh creek, near Pointbreeze. 

Mouth Little Salmon creek 

Chaumont river 

Guffon creek, Chaumont 

Mill creek, Sacketts Harbor 

Black creek, tributary of Oswego river, Scriba Corner 

Sandy creek, North Hamlin 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk 

Gape Vincent 

Little Stony brook, Henderson bay 

Long pond, Charlotte 

Cemetery creek, Watertown 

Great Sodus bay 

Grenadier island, Lake Ontario 

Salt brook, 1J miles above Nine Mile point 

Nine Mile point, Webster 

Under circumstances favorable as to water and food supply 
the rock bass grows to a length of 14 inches and a weight of 2 
pounds. It increases in depth and thickness with age. The 
largest example we have examined is one of 2 pounds weight, 
length 14 inches, from the James river, Va., taken near Rich- 
mond. Dr William Overton reports that rock bass weighing 
3| pounds have been taken in his vicinity at Stony creek, Va. 

In February and March this fish frequents the mouths of small 
streams, and in summer it seeks shady places under high banks 
or projecting rocks. The species is gregarious, going in large 
schools. It thrives where there is not much current and is very 
well adapted for culture in artificial ponds. It is as common 
in lakes and ponds as in the streams. Sluggish, pure dark 
water suits it best. 

The fishing season begins in June and lasts till the approach 
•of cold weather. The rock bass feeds on worms, crustaceans 



470 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and larvae of insects early in the season; later its food consist* 
of minnows and crawfish. The young feed on insects and their 
larvae. The spawning season is May and June, and gravelly 
shoals are resorted to for depositing the eggs. 

The rock bass bites very freely and is a fair game fish and 
excellent for the table. It fights vigorously, but its endurance 
is not great. Suitable baits are white grubs, crickets, grass- 
hoppers, crawfish and small minnows. Common earthworms are 
also successfully used. 

Genus chaenobryttus Gill 

This genus has the general form and dentition of A m b 1 o - 
p 1 i t e s , with the convex opercle, 10 dorsal and three anal 
spines of Lepomis. Preopercle entire; branchiostegals six;. 
caudal fin emarginate; scales weakly ctenoid; vertebrae 13+16= 
29; posterior processes of the premaxillaries extending nearly 
to the frontals; frontals posteriorly with a transverse ridge con- 
necting the parietal and supraoccipital crest, which are very 

strong. 

234 Chaenobryttus gulosus (Cuv. & Yal.) 

Warmouth; Goggle-eye 

Pomotis gulosus Ctjvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 498, 1829^ 
Lake Pontchar train and lagoons about New Orleans. 

Centrarchus viridis Ctjvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. VII, 460, 1831, 
Charleston, S. C. 

Centrarchus gulosus Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. VII, 459, 1831; 
Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 258, 1859. i 

Chaenobryttus antistius McKay, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 88, 1881, Lake Michi- 
gan; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 467, 1883. 

Chaenobryttus gulosus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 468, 
1883; Bollman, Rept. U. S. F. C. XVI, 562, pi. 69, fig. 3, 1892; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 992, 1896, pi. CLVII, fig. 421, 
1900. 

The body of the warmouth is heavy and deep, more elongate 
than in Lepomis, its greatest depth contained from two to 
two and one half times in total length without caudal; head 
rather long, its length contained from two and one fifth to two 
and two thirds times in the total without caudal; eye large, 
about one fourth as long as the head, and about equal to the 
snout; mouth large, the maxillary reaching to below hind margin 
of eye; gill rakers eight or nine besides some rudiments; oper- 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 471 

<cular spot about as large as the eye. The dorsal begins farther 
fcack than the pectoral, its spines low, the longest equal to dis- 
tance from tip of snout to middle of pupil; pectoral short, not 
reaching to anal; ventrals nearly reaching vent, the spine about 
one half the distance from origin of ventral to vent. D. X, 9 to 
10; A. Ill, 8 to 9. Scales 6-40 to 46-11 to 12; pores 37 to 42; 
6 to 8 rows on cheek. 

Color in life clear olive green clouded with darker, usually 
without red or blue; a dusky spot on each scale more or less 
distinct; vertical fins mottled with dusky; a faint spot on last 
rays of dorsal bordered by paler; three oblique dusky bars radi- 
ating from eye; belly yellowish. 

The warmouth inhabits the eastern United States from the 
Great lakes to South Carolina and Texas, ranging west to Kansas 
and Iowa. It occurs chiefly west or south of the Alleghanies. 
The fish reaches a length of 10 inches and is a food species of 
some importance. It is extremely voracious and, consequently, 
a favorite for angling. In form and color it varies greatly. 

Genus enne acanthus Gill 
Body rather short and deep, compressed; mouth small; the 
supplemental maxillary bone well developed; teeth on vomer 
and palatines, none on the tongue; opercle ending behind in two 
flat points, with a dermal border; preopercle entire; scales 
rather large, the lateral line sometimes interrupted; gill rakers 
short, nine or 10 • below angle of arch; dorsal fin continuous, 
normally with nine spines; anal fin smaller than the dorsal, with 
three spines; caudal fin convex behind; branchiostegals six. 
Species of small size and bright coloration, intermediate 
between L e p o m i s and Centrarchus. Abnormal vari- 
ations in the number of dorsal and anal spines have given rise 
to the nominal genera Hemioplites and Copelandia. 
235 Enneacanthus obesus (Baird) 
Banded Sunfish 

Pomotis obesus Baird, 9th Ann. Kept. Smith. Inst. 324, 1855, Beesleys 

Point, N. J. 
Bryttus fasciatus Holbrook, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 51, pi. 5, fig. 3, 1855, 

St John's River, Fla.; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 260, 1859. 



472 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Pomotis guttatus Morkis, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 3, 1859, Delaware River, 

Philadelphia, Pa. 
Enneacanthus obesus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat Mus. 470, 1883 1 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 108, 1893; Eugene Smith; Proc. Linn. Soc. 1897, 

34, 1898, Hackensack Valley, N. Y. 

The body of the banded sunfish is elliptic in form, its depth 
more than one half the total length without caudal, its thickness 
equal to two fifths of its depth. The caudal peduncle is short 
and stout, its least depth one third of greatest depth of body. 
The head is short, two fifths of total length without the caudal ; 
the snout is very short and oblique, its length about two thirds 
of the diameter of the eye, which is one third as long as the head, 
and exceeds the width of the interorbital space. The mouth is- 
oblique, moderate in size, the maxilla broadly expanded pos- 
teriorly and reaching to below the middle of the eye; a supple- 
mental maxillary bone. A black opercular flap, two thirds as 
long as the eye. Scales on cheeks in four rows. Gill rakers short 
and spiny, 13 developed on the first arch, the longest scarcely 
one half as long as the eye. The first dorsal spine is over the 
pectoral base, minute, less than one half as long as the second,, 
which is two thirds as long as the eye; the spines increase in 
size to the last, which is one half as long as the head; the fourth 
and longest soft ray is two thirds as long as the head. The 
ventral begins a little behind the pectoral base; the spine is two 
fifths as long as the head; the fin reaches to the second anal ray, 
its longest ray produced into a filament. The anal begins under 
the 13th scale of the lateral line; the base is two thirds as long 
as the head; the first spine is two thirds as long as the second, 
which is as long as the eye; the last spine is as long as the eye 
and snout combined. The anal rays increase in length to the 
fifth, which is as long as the head without the snout. The 
pectoral is below the median line and reaches to above the third 
anal spine. The caudal is rounded, the middle rays as long as- 
the head without the snout. The lateral line is imperfect after 
the 17th to the 19th scale. I). IX, 11; A. Ill, 10; V. I, 5; P. 12. 
Scales 5-32-10. The type of the species, no. 6538, U. S. National 
Museum, from Beesleys Point N. J. is here described; it is 3f 
inches long. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 473 

The banded sunfish inhabits coastwise streams from Massachu- 
setts to Florida. It occurs in southeastern Pennsylvania but is 
rare. 

This species grows to a length of 3 inches. It is olive green 
in color with five to eight dark cross bars intermingled with 
golden or purplish spots. There are lines and spots also on the 
cheeks. The flap on the opercle contains a velvety black spot 
with a purple border. Below the eye is a dark bar. This is a 
beautiful little species, but has no economic importance. 

In our vicinity it inhabits the entire Hackensack valley, pre- 
ferring quiet, weedy places. For the aquarium it is the most 
desirable of all the sunfishes, as well on account of its hardiness 
as of its harmless nature. Eugene Smith 

236 Enneacanthus gloriosus (Holbrook) 
Blue-spotted San fish 

Bryttus gloriosus Holbrook, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 52, pi. 5, fig. 4, 
1855, Cooper River, S. C; Guntheb, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 260, 1859. 

Eemioplites simulans Cope, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 218, 1868, Tuckahoe 
Creek, near Richmond, Va. 

Enneacanthus simulans Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 470, 
1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 108, 1893, Trenton, N. J. 

Enneacanthus eriarchus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 4C9, 
1883. 

Enneacanthus eriarchus Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 469, 1883. 

Enneacanthus gloriosus Bollman, Rept. U. S. F. C. XVI, 564, 1892; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 993, 1896, pi. CLVIII, fig. 442, 
1900; Mearns, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 319, 1898. 

The blue-spotted sunfish has an elliptic body, its greatest 
depth one half of the total length without the caudal, its thick- 
ness nearly two fifths of its depth. Caudal peduncle short, its 
least depth one third of greatest depth of body. Head moder- 
ately large, three eighths of total length without the caudal; 
snout very short and oblique, two thirds as long as the eye, 
which is nearly one third as long as the head; mouth moderately 
large, oblique, the broadly expanded maxilla reaching nearly to 
below front of pupil; lower jaw slightly projecting; the oper- 
culum ends in two flat points, between which there is a dark spot 
two thirds as long as the eye and bordered below by a narrow 
pearly stripe; gill rakers short and stout, 11 developed on first 



474 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

arch, the longest one third as long as the eye; four rows of 
scales on the cheeks. The spinous dorsal begins over the fourth 
scale of the lateral line; its base is two thirds as long as the 
head; the first spine is nearly one half as long as the eye; the 
spines gradually increase in length to the fourth, which is equal 
to those that follow it and to the length of the postorbital part 
of the head; the fifth, and longest, soft ray is as long as the 
head without the snout; the last soft ray is as long as the 
postorbital part of the head. The anal origin is under the 
14th scale of the lateral line; the base of the anal fin is as 
long as the head without the snout; the first spine is one 
fourth as long as the head; the third and longest spine equals 
the postorbital part of the head in length; the third and fourth 
soft rays are longest, as long as the head without the snout. 
The ventral reaches to the second anal ray, its spine as long 
as the postorbital part of the head. The pectoral is placed 
below the median line of the body; it reaches to below the 
14th scale of the lateral line. The caudal is rounded; its middle 
rays are three fourths as long as the head. The lateral line is 
usually complete, sometimes imperfect on one side. D. IX, 11; 
A. Ill, 10; V. I, 5; P. 11. Scales 4-31-10. 

In spirits the color is brownish; about seven or eight rows of 
scales below the lateral line with pearly blotches forming inter- 
rupted stripes; a dark band under the eye; the dorsal, anal, and 
caudal profusely spotted with roundish, pearly spots. Young 
individuals are obscurely banded. In life the spots of the male 
are blue, and the fins are higher than in the female; the opercle 
bears a pearly blue spot. The specimens described, no. 20356, 
U. S. National Museum, are from Trenton N. J. The largest is 
3 inches long. 

The blue-spotted sunfish is found from New York to South 
Carolina. According to Cope, it is very common in southeastern 
Pennsylvania. Mearns obtained it only in Long pond, a sheet 
of deep water almost a mile in length, 4 miles west of Highland 
Falls N. Y. He discovered the species there more than 23 years 
ago, and reports it still common. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 475 

This is a small species, not much larger than the banded sun- 
fish. It is a handsome fish, but has no importance for food. 

Genus apomotis Eafinesque 
This genus is very close to L e p o m i s, from which it differs 
only in the development of the supplementary maxillary bone, 
which becomes rudimentary or wanting in the adult of L e - 
p o m i s. The mouth is largest in the species in which this 
bone is best developed. Lower pharyngeals narrow, with acute 
teeth; gill rakers well developed, long and stiff; pectoral blunt- 
ish, shorter than head; scales moderate, 43 to 50. Species 
widely distributed in American waters, similar in habit to the 
species of L e p o m i s. 

237 Apomotis cyanellus (Rafinesque) 
Green Sun-fish; Redeye 

Lepomis cyanellus Rafinesque, Jour, de Phys. 420, 1819, Ohio River; 

Joedan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 473, 1883; Bean, Fishes 

Penna. 110, pi. 31, fig. 61, 1893; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 313, 

1888; Evebmann & Kendall, Bull. XL S. F. C. XII, 111, 1894. 
Pomotis longulus Baled & Gieaed, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 391, 1853, 

Otter Creek, Arkansas; Marcy's Expl. Red River, 245, pi. 12. 
Bryttus longulus Baled & Gieaed, 1. c. 25, 1854; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

Mus. I, 259, 1859. 
Calliurus longulus Gieaed, U. S. Pacif. R. R. Exp. Fishes, 16, pi. 5, figs. 

5-8, pi. 6, figs. 5-8, 1858; Rept U. S. Mex. Bound. Surv. Ichth. 5, pi. IV, 

figs. 1-4, 1859. 
Calliurus formosus Gieaed, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 200, 1857, Arkansas; 

U. S. Pacif. R. R. Exp. Fishes, 14, pi. 5, figs. 1-4, 1858. 
Apomotis cyanellus Rafinesque, Jour, de Phys. Paris, 420, 1819; Boulengee, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 21, 1896; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 996, 1896. 

The green sunfish has an oblong body, its greatest depth, at 
the ventrals, equal to three sevenths of the total length without 
the caudal, and its thickness three eighths of its depth. The 
least depth of the caudal peduncle equals four fifths of its 
length, and about one third of greatest body depth. The head 
is one third of total length without the caudal, its width nearly 
one half its length. The snout is moderately pointed, and as 
long as the eye, which is two ninths as long as the head. The 
interorbital space is nearly flat, its width a little greater than 
the length of the eye. The nape is moderately arched. The 



476 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM ' 

mouth is moderately large, the maxilla not widely expanded 
behind and reaching to below the front of the pupil. Supple- 
mental maxillary bone well developed; seven rows of scales on 
the cheeks; gill rakers short and stiff, 11 developed on the first 
arch, the longest one third as long as the eye; a short, broad 
opercular flap, its width and length about equal and two thirds 
of length of eye. The spinous dorsal begins over the sixth 
scale of the lateral line, its base nearly equal in length to the 
head; the first spine is two thirds as long as the eye; the spines 
increase gradually in length to the seventh, which is two fifths 
as long as the spinous dorsal base and one half the length of 
the head without the snout; the 10th spine is nearly as long as 
the seventh; the seventh and longest soft ray is one half as long; 
as the head; the last ray is one third as long as the head. The 
base of the soft dorsal is about two thirds as long as the 
spinous dorsal base. The anal begins under the 24th scale of 
the lateral line; the first spine is three fourths as long as the 
eye; the second is nearly twice, and the third two and one half 
times as long as the first; the length of the anal base equals 
one fifth of the total without the caudal; the fourth and longest 
anal ray is as long as the postorbital part of the head; the last 
ray is a little more than one half as long as the fourth. The 
caudal fin is emarginate, the middle rays three fourths as long 
as the external. The ventral reaches to the vent, its spine one 
half as long as the head, without the snout, its length one fifth 
of the total without the caudal. The pectoral reaches to below 
the 17th scale of the lateral line. The lateral line follows the 
outline of the back. D. X, 11; A. Ill, 10; V. I, 5; P. 13. Scales 
7-47-14. 

In spirits the color is pale brown, the fins paler. The oper- 
cular flap has a dark spot as described above. In life there is 
generally a black blotch on the hinder part of the dorsal and 
anal; the ground color is greenish with a brassy tinge on the 
sides, the lower parts yellowish; blue spots and gilt borders 
usually ornament the scales, and faint dark bands are often 
present. The dorsal, anal and caudal have blue or green mark- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 477 

ings, and the anal is margined in front with orange. The iris 
is red and the cheeks are striped with blue. The specimen 
described, no. 36313, U. S. National Museum, from the Sac river, 
Mo., is 7 inches long. 

The blue-spotted sunfish, also known as the green sunfish 
and redeye, occurs from the Great lakes region, throughout the 
Ohio and Mississippi valleys south to Mexico. It does not occur 
in the Middle Atlantic states east of the Alleghanies. Dr Meek 
did not find this fish near Ithaca. A few specimens were taken 
near Montezuma N. Y. None of the collectors of the U. S. Fish 
Commission obtained it in the Lake Ontario region. 

The species reaches a length of 7 inches, and is an extremely 
variable one. Prof. Cope refers to it as a good panfish and 
states that it is abundant in the Ohio basin. In the Ohio valley 
it is one of the characteristic fishes, inhabiting ponds and 
ascending small streams. It frequents deep holes and the 
shelter of overhanging roots. 

Genus lepomis Kafinesque 

Body oblong or ovate, more or less compressed, the back in 
the adult somewhat elevated; mouth moderate or small, the 
jaws about equal; maxillary narrow, the supplemental bone 
reduced to a mere rudiment, or altogether wanting; teeth on 
vomer and usually on palatines, none on tongue or pterygoids, 
lower pharyngeals narrow, the teeth spherical or paved, all or 
nearly all sharp, few or none of them conical; gill rakers mostly 
short; preoperculum entire; operculum ending behind in a con- 
vex flap, black in color, which in some species becomes greatly 
developed with age; branchiostegals six; scales moderate; 
dorsal fin continuous, with 10 spines; anal with three spines; 
caudal fin emarginate; pectorals long or short; vertebrae 
usually 13+16 or 17=29 or 30. Coloration brilliant, but evanes- 
cent. A large genus, one of the most difficult in our fish fauna 
in which to distinguish species. The form of body, develop- 
ment of ear flap, and hight of spines vary with age and con- 
dition, while the general appearance and the numbers of fin 
rays and scales are essentially the same in all. Several at- 



478 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

tempts have been made to subdivide the group, but the char- 
acters used, drawn from the pharyngeals, gill rakers, palatine 
teeth, and pectoral fins, are themselves subject to variation, 
changing or disappearing by degrees without marked gaps. 

238 Lepomis auritus (Linnaeus) 
Long-ea/red Sunfish 

Labrus auritus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 283, 1758, Philadelphia, Pa. 
Labrus appendix Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 247, February, 1818. 
Pomotis appendix De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 32, 1842, from Mitchill; 

Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 14, pi. Ill, fig. 4, 1867. 
Pomotis rubricauda Stoker, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 177, 1842, Concord, 

N. H.; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 262, 1859. 
Lepomis elongatus and mystacalis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

. Mus. 475, 1883. 
Lepomis auritus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U* S. Nat. Mus. 477, 1883; 

Bean. Fishes Penna. 113, pi. 31, fig. 63, 1898; Jordan & Bvermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1001, 1896, pi. CLXIX, figs. 425, 425a, 1900; 

Mearns, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist X, 319, 1898; Eugene Smith, Proc. 

Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 34, 1898. 

The long-eared sunfish has an oblong, moderately elongate 
body, its depth nearly one half of the length without the caudal 
and its thickness a little more than one third of its depth. The 
caudal peduncle is moderately short, its least depth three 
fourths of its length and one third of greatest depth of body. 
The head is rather large, its length without the flap one third 
of the total without caudal, its width one half of its length. 
The space between the eyes is convex, its width a little more 
than the length of the snout, which is two ninths as long as the 
head including the flap. The upper edge of the snout is oblique. 
The eye is one fourth as long as the head without the flap. 
The mouth is moderate in size, the maxilla not very broadly ex- 
panded behind and extending to below the front of the pupil. 
The scales on the cheeks are very small, in about eight rows. 
The opercular flap is long, narrow and pointed, its length equal 
to that of the snout and about twice its width. The gill rakers 
are short and stout, about 11 developed on the first arch, the 
longest one third as long as the eye. The spinous dorsal begins 
over the sixth scale of the lateral line; its base is two sevenths 
of total length without caudal; the first spine is two thirds as 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 47J> 

long as the second, which is as long as the eye; the fourth 
(longest) is one and one half times as long as the eye; after the 
fourth the spines slightly decrease in length, the last being 
little longer than the eye; the fifth (longest) soft ray is as long 
as the base of the soft dorsal and equal to the snout and eye 
combined; the last soft ray is a little more than one half as 
long as the longest. The anal begins under the 21st scale 
of the lateral line; the length of its base equals that of 
the soft dorsal; the spines are short and stout, the first two 
thirds as long as the second and one half as long as the third, 
which is one and one half times as long as the eye; the fourth 
(longest) soft ray is as long as the base of the fin; the last ray 
is two thirds of this length. The caudal is emarginate, the 
middle rays two thirds as long as the outer. The ventral 
reaches beyond the vent, sometimes to the origin of the anal. 
The ventral spine is one half as long as the fin. The pectoral 
has a broad base and extends to below the 19th scale of the 
lateral line. D. X, 10; A. Ill, 9; V. I, 5; P. 14. Scales 7-43-13. 
The lateral line follows the curve of the back. 

In spirits the color is pale brown; the fins somewhat paler; 
the ear flap black; a brownish streak in front of the eye and 
another horizontal one beneath it. In life the color is 
olivaceous; the belly, specially in breeding males, orange. The 
scales on the sides have reddish spots on a bluish ground. 
Dorsal, anal and caudal usually yellowish. The stripes on the 
head are bluish. 

The specimen described, no. 33152, U. S. National Museum, 
from Bainbridge Pa. is 5J inches long. 

The long-eared sunfish has a very extensive range and is 
known under many common names, among which are the fol- 
lowing: bream, red-tailed bream, redhead bream, red-bellied 
bream, perch, sun perch, red-bellied perch and redbreast. 

The species is common in streams east of the Alleghanies 
from Maine to Florida, and in tributaries of the Gulf of Mexico 
to Louisiana. In the southern states the typical long-eared 
sunfish is replaced by a variety with larger scales on the cheeks 



480 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and belly and a dusky blotch on the posterior part of the soft 
dorsal fin. 

Mearns found this sunfish abundant in the Hudson and in 
Poplopen's creek, a tributary of the Hudson; he took it also 
in Highland lake. Eugene Smith reported it to be very com- 
mon in the upper Passaic river, in the Great swamp and in the 
Bronx river. 

The long-eared sunfish averages about 8 inches when adult 
and weighs about 1 pound. In the south the size and number 
of individuals are greatly increased. This fish feeds on worms, 
insect larvae, crustaceans, mollusks and small fishes. In the 
Susquehanna this is one of the most common of the sunfishes; 
in the Delaware also it is abundant, and reaches a large size. 
Though not important commercially, it is taken in large num- 
bers on the hook and is an excellent food fish. It takes any 
kind of live bait very readily and furnishes good sport also with 
the artificial fly. In the Hudson Highlands region, according 
to Mearns, it is commonly sold in the markets; fishermen take 
it in fykes, and by angling, using dough, grasshoppers and angle- 
worms for bait. He has caught it in the most rapid parts of 
Poplopen's creek when angling for brook trout. 

239 Lepomis pallidus (Mitchill) 
Bluegill; Blue Sunfish 

Labrus pallidus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc N. Y. I, 407, 1815, near 
New York. 

Pomotis incisor Cuviek & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VII, 466, 1831, 
New Orleans; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 33, 1842 (extralimital). 

Pomotis gibbosus Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. VII, 467, 1831, Charles- 
ton, S. C. 

Pomotis speciosus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 263, 1859. 

Lepomis pallidus Joed an & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 479, 1883; 
Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 313, 1888; Bean, Fishes Pen'na. 112, pi. 
31, fig. 62, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1005, 
1896, pi. CLX, fig. 427, 1900. 

The blue sunfish has a deep, elliptic body, its greatest depth 
at the ventrals one half of the total length without the caudal; 
the thickness equals about one third of the depth. The caudal 
peduncle is short and deep, its least hight nearly one half the 
length of head. The head is one third of the total length with- 






FISHES OP NEW YORK 481 

out the caudal; its width equals one half of its length. The 
snout is short, obtuse and oblique, less than the eye in length. 
The interorbital space is slightly convex, its width one third of 
the length of the head. The mouth is small, oblique, the max- 
illa not greatly expanded behind, reaching to below the front 
of the eye. The width of the preorbital equals one half the 
diameter of the eye. Scales on the cheeks in five rows. The 
gill rakers are short and stout, about 15 developed on the first 
arch, the longest little more than one fourth as long as the eye. 
No supplemental maxillary bone. No palatine teeth. The 
lower pharyngeal bone narrow, with teeth in only about four 
series, chiefly acute. The spinous dorsal begins over the fourth 
scale of the lateral line; the spines are stout, the first as long 
as the snout and one half as long as the fifth and longest; the 
spines following the fifth not much shorter; the first seven soft 
rays about equal in length and one half as long as the head; 
the last ray one third as long as the head. The base of the 
spinous dorsal is nearly as long as the head; the soft dorsal is 
two thirds as long as the spinous. The anal begins under the 
20th scale of the lateral line; its base is as long as the head 
without the snout; the spines are short and heavy, the first 
five sixths as long as the eye, the second a little longer than the 
eye, and the third one half as long as the head without the 
snout; the longest rays are the fourth to the seventh, which are 
one half as long as the head. The caudal is notched, its middle 
rays three fourths as long as the outer. The ventral reaches 
almost to the anal, its spine being one half as long as the head 
without the snout. The pectoral is broad and reaches to below 
the 18th scale of the lateral line. The lateral line follows the 
curve of the back. D. X, 11; A. Ill, 10; Y. I, 5; P. 13. Scales 
7-41-15. 

In spirits the color is pale brown, the scales with a pale mar- 
gin; a large dark blotch on the hind part of the soft dorsal; a 
black opercular flap, its width and length about equal, shorter 
than the eye. The living fish varies with age from light green 
to dark green. The young have the sides silvery, tinged with 



482 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

purple and with many vertical greenish bands, which are some- 
times chainlike. The dark blotch of the soft dorsal is often 
indistinct in the young. In very old individuals the belly is 
often coppery red. The specimen described, no. 27845, U. S. 
National Museum, from Peoria 111., is 7J inches long. 

The propriety of using Mitchill's name p a 1 1 i d u s for the 
blue sunfish is extremely doubtful. His description can be 
much more readily referred to a species ofEnneacanthus, 
and the locality " near New York " does not possess this sunfish 
among its native species. 

The blue sunfish, blue bream, copper-nosed bream or dol- 
lardee, is a very widely diffused species and varies greatly in 
size, color and length of the ear flap. It is found in the Great 
lakes and throughout the Mississippi valley to Mexico. East of 
the Alleghanies it ranges from New Jersey to Florida. In 
Pennsylvania it is abundant only in the western part of the 
state, including Lake Erie. Dr Abbott has recorded it from the 
Delaware river. Dr Meek says that it is found in the Cayuga 
lake basin in small numbers with the blue-spotted sunfish, 
Apomotis cyanellus, which he took near Montezuma. 

The blue sunfish grows to a length of nearly 1 foot, and indi- 
viduals weighing nearly 2 pounds are on record. Adults, how- 
ever, average 8 inches in length, with a weight of less than 1 
pound. The size of the individuals depends on the habitat. In 
large lakes and streams it grows to a greater size than in small 
bodies of water. In southern waters it attains to a larger size 
than in northern waters. It lives in ponds as well as in streams 
and thrives in warm waters. It is considered equal to the rock 
bass as a panfish and can very readily be taken by hook fishing. 

Genus eupomotis Gill & Jordan 
Very closely related to L e p o m i s, differing xmly in the 
blunter and more pavementlike teeth of the lower pharyngeal 
bones. These bones are, in typical species, broad and concave, 
specially in the adult. There is considerable variation among 
the species, and it is possible that this division can not be main- 
tained. Most of the species have long pectoral fins, the sup- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 483 

plemental maxillary lost or very much reduced, and the 
opercular flap always with an orange patch on its lower 
posterior part. Gill rakers various, usually short. The reten- 
tion of this genus is possibly justified by convenience, but 
neither the longer pectorals nor the blunt pharyngeals separate 
it sharply from L e p o m i s. 

240 Eupomotis gibbosus (Linnaeus) 

Sunfish; Pumpkin Seed 

Perca gibbosa Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 292, 1758, Carolina. 

Sparus aureus Walbaum, Artedi. Gen. Pise. 290, 1792, lakes of New York. 

Morone maculata Mitchill, Report in Part, 19, 1814. 

Pomotis vulgaris Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 91, 1829, 

Lake Huron, New York, Virginia; and Carolina; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, 

Fishes, 31, pi. 51, fig. 166, 1842; Holrrook, Ichth. S. C. 6, pi. 1, fig. 2, 

1856. 
Pomotis auritus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 261, 1859. 
Lepomis gibbosus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 482, 1883; 

Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 313, 1888; Bean, Fishes, Penna. 115, pi. 

32, fig. 65, 1893. 
Eupomotis aureus Mather, App. 12th Kept. Adirondack Surv. N. Y. 7, 

1886. 
Eupomotis gibbosus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1009, 

1896, pi. CLXI, fig. 429, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 364, 

1897; Mearns, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 320, 1898; Eugene Smith, 

Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 35, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Kept. N. Y. State 

Mus. 104, 1900. 

The body of the common sunfish is nearly ovate, its depth 
one half the total length without caudal; its thickness one third 
of the depth. The caudal peduncle is short and compressed, 
its least depth less than the thickness of the body. The head 
is moderately large, one third of the total length without 
caudal, its width one half its length. The snout is short and 
depressed, its length four fifths of the diameter of the eye, 
which is one fourth as long as the head. The interorbital space 
is nearly flat, its width one and one half times the diameter of 
the eye. The mouth is small and oblique; the maxilla not much 
expanded behind and reaching to below the front of the eye. 
Scales on the cheeks in four rows. The opercular spot is short, 
less than two thirds the diameter of the eye, and has a whitish 
margin behind. The gill rakers are very short, moderately 
stout, 10 or 11 developed on the first arch, the longest less than 



484 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

one fourth the diameter of the eye. The spinous dorsal begins 
over the third scale of the lateral line; its base is as long as 
the head without the opercular flap; the first spine is two thirds 
as long as the eye; the spines increase in size, the fourth, fifth 
and sixth being nearly equal in length and about as long as 
the eye and snout combined; the sixth and longest soft ray is 
as long as the postorbital part of the head, while the last ray 
is less than one third as long as the head. The base of the soft 
dorsal is as long as that of the spinous dorsal. The anal origin 
is under the 23d scale of the lateral line. The anal base is two 
thirds as long as the head; the first spine is about one half as 
long as the third (longest), which is two fifths as long as the 
head. The first and second rays are the longest, nearly as long 
as the base of the fin. The last ray is two thirds as long as the 
first. The ventral reaches beyond the vent; its spine is one half 
as long as the head without the snout. The pectoral reaches 
to above the anal origin. The caudal is emarginate, its middle 
rays four fifths as long as the outer. The lateral line follows 
the curve of the back. D. X, 12; A. Ill, 10; V. I, 5; P. 13. 
Scales 6-42-13. 

In spirits the color is pale brownish, the opercular flap black 
with a narrow whitish margin behind and beneath, and the 
dorsal fin with faint dusky blotches. In life this is one of the 
most brilliant of sunfishes, the upper parts being greenish olive 
with a bluish tinge, the sides profusely spotted with orange, 
the belly and lower fins orange and the dorsal and caudal fins 
bluish with orange spots. The cheeks are orange with undulat- 
ing blue stripes; the opercular flap is black, emarginated behind 
and underneath with bright scarlet. 

The specimen described, no. 20304, U. S. National Museum, 
from the Susquehanna at Havre de Grace, is nearly 6 inches 
iong. 

The common sunfish, or sunny, pumpkin seed, bream, tobacco 
box, and pondfish is one of the best known fishes of the United 
States. 

It is found from Maine westward through the Great lakes 
region to Minnesota and in the eastern states south to South 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 485 

Carolina. In western rivers, however, it is seldom found south 
of the latitude of Chicago. In New York the sunfish abounds 
almost everywhere, in the lowlands as well as the highlands 
and in brackish as well as fresh waters; it has even been taken 
occasionally in salt water on Long Island. Large individuals 
have been received from Canandaigua lake and from lakes in 
the Adirondacks. Dr Meek found it very common throughout 
the Cayuga lake basin. The collectors of the U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion obtained it in almost all the waters visited by them (21 
localities) in the Lake Ontario region. Eugene Smith reports it 
from most of the moraine ponds of Long Island and Staten 
Island, and in quarry ponds of the Palisades, wherein it is fre- 
quently placed by boys. Ponds and lakes in the parks of New 
York city are well stocked with this species. Mearns reported 
it as abundant in the Hudson and in all the ponds and slow 
streams of the Hudson Highlands. Mather recorded it as a 
common fish in most of the Adirondack waters, the exceptions 
being Piseco lake, G lake, Coald lake, Sent s' lake, T lake, Willis 
pond, Murphy, Warner and Bug lakes. 

The common sunfish grows to a length of 8 inches and a 
weight of about \ pound. Its food is similar to that of the 
long-eared sunfish; and it is one of the readiest biters known 
to the angler. The habits of this fish have been described by 
Dr Theodore Gill and W. P. Seal. The latter states that the 
male in the breeding season is readily identified by his brighter 
coloration, conspicuous ear flaps and a luminous border around 
the fins while in the water. The nest is a depression in the mud, 
sand or gravel, hollowed out by means of the fins. In the 
Potomac he found a number of nests which were located from 
a few inches to several feet apart. The male watches the nest 
and drives v away all intruders. The eggs are only about 3 - 2 - 
of an inch in diameter and not very numerous. They are 
attached to stones and aquatic plants. Mr Seal has reason to 
believe that the male alone is concerned in building the nest 
and in the care of the eggs and young. 

The species is usually hardy in captivity, but is subject to 
fungus attacks which yield readily to treatment with brackish 



486 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

water. Tn the aquarium, according to Eugene Smith, the com- 
mon sunfish by incessant attacks often kills associates of many- 
kinds. It is a very gamy fish, common everywhere and is usually 
found in the company of shiners, minnows and killies. In 
quarry ponds, of the Palisades, says the same author, the fish 
will thrive and multiply as freely as the goldfish, provided there 
is water enough throughout the year. 

Genus micropterus Lacep&de 
Body oblong, compressed, the back not much elevated; head 
oblong, conical; mouth very large, oblique, the broad maxillary 
reaching nearly to or beyond the posterior margin of the eye, 
its supplemental bone well developed; lower jaw prominent;, 
teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines in broad villiform bands, 
the inner depressible, usually no teeth on the 'tongue; preopercle 
entire; operculum ending in two flat points without cartilagin- 
ous flap; branchiostegals normally six; gill rakers long and 
slender; scales rather small, weakly ctenoid; lateral line com- 
plete, the tubes straight, occupying the anterior half of each 
scale; dorsal fin divided by a deep notch, the spines low and : 
rather feeble, 10 in number; anal spines three, the anal fin much 
smaller than the dorsal; pectorals obtusely pointed, the upper 
rays longest; ventrals close together below the pectorals; caudal 
fin emarginate; posterior processes of the premaxillaries not 
extending to the frontals; frontals posteriorly with a transverse 
ridge connecting the parietal and supraoccipital crests, which 
are very strong; vertebrae 16+16 or 17=32 or 33. Size large. 
Two species, among the most important of American " game rr 

fishes. 

241 Micropterus dolomieu Lacepede 

Small Mouthed Black Bass 

Micropterus dolomieu LaceYede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 325, 1802; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 485, 1883; Mather, App. 12th Kept 
Adirondack Surv. N. Y. 5, 1886; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 
313, 1888; Bean, Fishes Penna. 116, color pi. 11, 1893; Eveemann & 
Kendall, Kept. U. S. F. C. for 1894, 600, 1896; Jordan & Eveemann, 
Bull. 47. TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 1011, 1896, pi. CLXII, figs. 430, 430a, 1900;. 
Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 364, 1897; Mearns, id. X, 320,. 
1898; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N, Y. 1897, 35, 1898. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 487 

Oentrarchvs ohscurus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 30, pi. 17, fig. 48, 1842, 
Onondaga Creek, N. Y.; Gttnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 258, 1859. 

The small mouthed bass differs most markedly from the 
large mouthed in the size of its jaws, the shallower notch in the 
dorsal fin and the smaller scales. There are about 11 rows of 
scales above the lateral line and seven below it; 72-74 scales 
in the lateral line. The ninth spine of the dorsal is longer than 
the eye and fully two thirds as long as the fifth and longest 
spine. The upper jaw extends backward to below the hind 
margin of the eye. The body is ovate oblong in shape, its 
greatest depth about equal to length of the head and one 
third of the total without caudal, becoming deeper with age. 
The eye is less than two thirds as long as the snout and about 
one sixth the length of head. The pectoral is not much longer 
than the ventral and slightly more than one half the length of 
head. The soft dorsal and anal are more scaly at the base than 
in the large-mouthed species. The scales on the cheeks and 
breast are very much smaller than those on the middle of the 
sides. D. X, 13-15; A. Ill, 10. 

The young are dull yellowish green, the sides mottled with 
darker spots, which sometimes form short vertical bars. Three 
dark stripes on the head; caudal yellowish at the base; a broad 
black band near middle of tail and a broad whitish margin 
behind. The dark lateral band characteristic of the large 
mouthed species is not found in the small-mouth. In the adult 
the prevailing color is olive green, the stripes on the head 
remaining more or less distinct. 

One of the early names for the small mouthed black bass is 
that of growler, which appears in the writings of Cuvier, who 
was under the impression that the name was applied because of 
a noise sometimes produced by this bass. At the time of his 
writing the name growler was pretty generally identified with 
the black bass. Among the names applied to this fish by 
Rafinesque are lake bass, big bass, spotted bass, and achigan. 
He also mentions it under the names painted tail, bridge perch, 
jellow bass, gold bass, brown bass, dark bass, minny bass, little 



488 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

bass, hog bass, yellow perch, black perch, trout perch, streaked 
head, white trout and brown trout. In the southern states the 
small-mouth is known as the trout, perch and jumper. In Ala- 
bama it is called mountain trout. Some persons style it the 
bronze backer. The most appropriate name and the one by 
which it is best known is that of black bass or small mouthed 
black bass. 

This species is indigenous to the ujjper parts of the St Law- 
rence basin, the Great lakes region and the basin of the Mis- 
sissippi. East of the Alleghanies it is native to the headwaters 
of the Ocmulgee and Chattahoochee rivers, but north of these 
streams, though not originally an inhabitant of the waters, it 
has been widely distributed by artificial introduction. 

In the St Lawrence river Evermann and Bean obtained the 
fish 3 miles below Ogdensburg N. Y. July 17, 1894, evidently the 
young of the year, as the specimen is If inches long. In Scioto 
creek at Coopersville N. Y. they secured an example If inches 
long July 19, 1894. Field assistants of the IJ. S. Fish Commission, 
collecting in the Lake Ontario region of New York in 1894 and 
preceding years, took specimens in the following localities. 

Big Stony creek, Henderson Harbor 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk 

Marsh creek, Point Breeze 

Four mile creek, Nine Mile point, Webster. 

Wart creek 

Black river, Huntingtonville 

Cape Vincent 

Mouth Little Salmon creek 

Great Sodus bay 

Sandy creek, North Hamlin 

Long pond, Charlotte 

Meek did not find this species in the vicinity of Ithaca. Near 
Cayuga and Montezuma it is less common than the large- 
mouthed black bass. Mather reported the species in Kacquette r 
Forked, White, Fourth, Bisby and Sucker lakes, Black and 
Moose rivers, and in Partlo pond, St Lawrence county, in all of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 489 

which it has been introduced. The fish is not uncommon in Lake 
Champlain; it is abundant in the vicinity of Caledonia N. Y. 
Eugene Smith records it from the Passaic river. The writer has 
found it abundant in the Bronx. Mearns mentions it from Long 
pond, in the Hudson Highlands, where it reaches the weight of 
5 or 6 pounds. 

This bass does not grow so large as the large mouthed, seldom 
exceeding 8 pounds in weight and averaging but 2J pounds. A 
fish of the latter weight will measure 15 inches in length, while 
one of 8 poun6!s will measure 2 feet. 

The food of the black bass consists of crawfish, frogs, insects 
and their larvae, minnows and other aquatic animals of suitable 
size. The young can be fed on small fresh-water crustaceans, 
such as Daphnia and Cyclops. Among the successful baits for 
this species are stone catfish, hellgramites and crickets. 

The black bass prefers rapid water, is extremely active, and 
frequents clear, pure, swiftly flowing streams, and thrives at 
greater elevations than those preferred by the large mouthed 
species. It hibernates in the winter and spawns in the shallows 
on gravelly bottoms in spring. It follows its prey into shallow 
water and frequently leaps far out of the water in its efforts 
to escape from the hook or when frightened by the sudden 
approach of an enemy. It swims in schools and is often found 
in the shelter of sunken logs and in the vicinity of large rocks. 

The spawning season begins in March and ends in July. The 
period of incubation lasts from seven to 14 days. The eggs are 
bound together in bands or ribbons by an adhesive substance. 
They adhere to stones on which they are deposited. The parent 
fish build nests and protect the eggs and young. In the Dela- 
ware the current is more rapid and the temperature lower than 
in the Susquehanna; hence the bass spawn earlier in the latter 
than in the former. The .spawning fish have nearly all left 
their spawning beds in the Susquehanna early in July, but at 
this time most of the nests in the Delaware are still full of eggs. 
By some writers it is believed that the female prepares the 
nest before the male joins her. The males fight for the 



400 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

possession of the female and are said to help the process of 
ejecting the eggs by biting or pressing the belly of the female. 
After the eggs are deposited, the female guards the nest from 
the attacks of the crawfish and other fishes. The young 
are consumed by many birds and by frogs and snakes. Yet, 
notwithstanding the numerous enemies of the black bass, its 
multiplication has been rapid and enormous. 

The small mouthed black bass ceases to take food on the 
approach of cold weather and remains nearly dormant through 
the winter, except in artificially heated water. A number of 
the young of the year, received from James Annin jr of Cale- 
donia N. Y. Oct. 6, 1890, scarcely fed at all in the following 
winter, but when the spring was advanced they fed eagerly and 
grew rapidly. 

242 Micropterus salmoides Lacep&de 
Large mouthed Black Bass 

Laorus salmoides Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 716, 1802, South Carolina. 
Euro nigricans Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II, 124, pi. 17, 

1828, Lake Huron; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 15, pi. 69, fig. 224, 

1842; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 255, 1859. 
Micropterus pallidus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 19, 1879. 
Micropterus salmoides Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 484, 

1883; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 313, 1888; Bean, Fishes Penna. 

118, pi. 32, fig. 66, 1893; Bull. Am. Mus, Nat. Hist. IX, 364, 1897; 

Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 1012, 1896, pi. CLXIII, 

fig. 431, 1900; Meaens,.Bu11. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 320, 1898; Eugene 

Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 36, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Kept. 

N. Y. State Mus. 105, 1900. 

The large mouthed black bass takes its common name from 
the size of its jaws; the lower jaw projects very strongly, and 
the maxilla in the adult extends beyond the hind margin of the 
eye. The depth of the body is about one third of the total with- 
out caudal, and does not equal the length of the head. The eye 
is shorter than the snout, about one sixth of the length of the 
head. The pectoral is half as long as the head, much longer 
than the ventral. The spinous dorsal is very low, its ninth and 
10th spines not so long as the eye, its fourth spine longest, 
about one fourth the length of head. Seven to eight scales 
above the lateral line, below 16 and in the lateral line about 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 491 

^68. The color is greenish, silvery below. The young have a 
broad dark lateral band. D. X, 13; A. Ill, 10-11. 

This species may best be distinguished from the small 
mouthed black bass by the size of its mouth and the number 
of rows of scales above the lateral line. The young of the 
small mouthed species, also^ never have a dark lateral band. 

Common names for this species are, Oswego bass, river bass, 
green bass, moss bass, bayou bass, trout, jumper, chub and 
Welshman. Throughout the north it is generally known as bass, 
in Virginia and North Carolina as chub and in Florida and west 
to Texas as trout. 

The large mouthed bass has a wide distribution, being 
indigenous to the eastern United States, from Manitoba to 
Florida and Texas, except New England and the Middle Atlantic 
states east of the Alleghanies, where it has been extensively 
introduced. It inhabits the fresh-water ponds, lakes and slug- 
gish streams. It is found also at the mouths of rivers empty- 
ing into the Gulf of Mexico, where the water is brackish. 

Dr Meek found the large mouthed species scarce near Ithaca 
and more common near Montezuma and Cayuga. James Annin 
jr collected the young at Caledonia. The U. S. Fish Commission 
had it from the following places in the Lake Ontario region: 

Lake view hotel, 7 m. n. e. of Oswego 

Marsh creek, Point Breeze 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk 

Mouth Little Salmon creek 

Stony Island 

Four Mile creek, Nine Mile point, near Webster 

Creek at Pultneyville 

Chaumont river 

Great Sodus bay . 

Three Mile creek, Oswego 

Long pond, Charlotte 

Dr Mearns first observed the species in the Hudson in the 
autumn of 1882, where the fish were caught in fyke nets during 
October and November. Eugene Smith records it from all lakes 
and rivers adjacent to New York city. 



492 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Young individuals, from 1^ to 2 inches long, were seined in? 
Bronx river in August 1897. 

The average weight of the large mouthed bass in southern 
waters is less than 5 pounds, and still less in northern waters. 
In Florida it attains a large size, as much as 3 feet in length, 
and a weight of 25 pounds. Its growth and size depend on the 
waters where it is found, and the natural food supply of small 
fish, crawfish and frogs. 

It is a very active fish; its movements are affected by season- 
al changes and the search for food and places for spawning. In 
polluted streams the bass are often compelled by the impuri- 
ties to seek new haunts in pure water. The young bass feed on 
animal food at an early age. The large mouthed bass is said to 
be more cannibalistic than the small mouthed. Small fishes 
(minnows) of all kinds, crawfish, frogs, insects and their larvae,, 
and aquatic animals of all kinds, suitable in size, make up the 
diet of this fish. It feeds both at the surface and on the bot- 
tom, pursuing its prey with great activity. When surrounded 
by seines or caught on hooks this species will often leap 5 or 
6 feet out of the water, and its habit of jumping over the cork 
lines of seines has given it the name of "jumper." 

In cold weather the bass seeks deep places, often hibernating 
under rocks, sunken logs and in the mud. Favorite localities 
are under overhanging and brush-covered banks, in the summer, 
and among aquatic plants, where the fish lies in wait for its 
prey. 

The spawning season of the large mouthed bass is about the 
same as that of the small mouthed species, beginning in April 
and lasting till July. Its eggs are adhesive, sticking to stones 
during the incubation period, which lasts from one to two weeks 
according to the temperature of the water. The young bass 
remain in the nest a week or 10 days, and at the age of two 
weeks will measure about f of an inch in length. In suitable 
waters it is estimated that the large mouthed bass will weigh 
at the age of three years from 2 pounds to 4 pounds. 

The Oswego bass is even more destructive to fish than M. 
d o 1 o m i e u . It will eat any fish which it can manage to get 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 493 

into its mouth and will lie on the bottom for days so gorged 

that it can not stir. In voracity it is only equaled, but hardly 

excelled by the pike. This bass bears captivity well. (After 

Eugene Smith 1 ) 

The young above referred to as coming from Caledonia N. Y* 

hibernated and took scarcely any food during the winter, but 

fed ravenously in spring, summer, and fall. They proved very 

hardy in captivity. 

* Family pSrcidae 

Perches 
Genus stizostedion Kafinesque 
Body elongate, fusiform, the back broad; head subcorneal,, 
long; cheeks, opercles, and top of head more or less scaly; 
mouth large, the jaws about equal; premaxillaries protractile, 
little movable; teeth in villiform bands, the jaws and palatines 
with long, sharp canines; gill rakers slender, strong; gill mem- 
branes separate; preopercle serrated, the serrae below turned 
forward; opercle with one or more spines, terminations of 
radiating striae; dorsal fins well separated, the first with 12 to 
15 spines, the second with 17 to 21 soft rays, last dorsal spine 
not erectile, bound down by membranes; anal spines two, slen- 
der, closely appressed to the soft rays, which are rather long,. 
11 to 14 in number; ventral fins well separated, the space 
between them equal to their base, ventral spine slender, closely 
appressed to the soft rays; scales small, strongly ctenoid;: 
lateral line continuous; branchiostegals seven; pseudobranchiae 
well developed; pyloric caeca three to seven. Two species, 
differing considerably from each other. Large carnivorous 
fishes of the fresh waters of North America. 

Subgenus stizostedion 

243 Stizostedion vitreum (Mitchill) 
Pike Perch; Pike; Wall-eyed Pike 

Perca vitrea Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 247, Feb. 1818, Cayuga Lake,. 

N. Y. 
Lucioperca americana Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II. 122,. 

1828, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna. Fishes, 17, pi. 50, fig. 163. 1842;. 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 74, 1859. 

^inn. Soc. N. Y. Proc. 1897. no. 9, p. 36. 



494 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Stizostedium vitreum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 525, 1883. 
Lucioperca vitrca Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 38, 1898. 
Stizostedion vitreum Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 314, 1888; Bean, Fishes 

Penna. 127, color pi. 13, 1893; Evermann and Kendall, Rept. U.S.F.C. 

for 1S94, 601, 1896; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

1021, 1896, pi. OLXIV, fig. 433, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

IX, 364, 1897. 

The pike perch belongs to the genus Stizostedion, which 
has been distinguished from the saugers by the structure of its 
pyloric caeca, which are three in number, nearly equal in size, 
and about as long as the stomach, and also by the presence 
of 21 soft rays in the second dorsal, while the saugers have 18. 
It may be remarked that all of these characters are more or less 
variable. The S. vitreum has the body long and moderately 
deep, its depth varying with age and equaling from one sixth 
to one fourth of the total length without caudal; the length of 
the head is contained in the same standard four and two thirds 
times; the eye is moderate, about two thirds as long as the snout 
and a little more than one sixth of the length of the head; the 
lower jaw projects slightly; the maxilla reaches to beyond the 
pupil; the cheeks and opercles are more scaly than in the saugers; 
the soft dorsal is nearly as long as the spinous; length of long- 
est dorsal spine about half the length of head. D. XIII, I, 21; A. 
II, 12 to 13. About 90 scales in lateral line, 10 above and 19 
below. The pectoral reaches to below the 10th spine of the dor- 
sal; it is as long as the ventral and one half the length of head; 
the vent is under the fifth ray of the second dorsal. 

Color olivaceous, mingled with brassy; sides of the head ver- 
miculated; the dorsals, caudal and pectoral with bands; those of 
the dorsals and caudal not continuous; sides with about seven 
oblique dark bands, differing in direction; a jet black blotch on 
the membrane behind the last spine of the dorsal. 

The pike perch has received a great many common names. One 
•of the most unsuitable is " Susquehanna salmon," which is used 
in Pennsylvania. In the eastern states the species is styled the 
perch pike or the pike perch, glasseye and wall-eyed pike. In 
the Great lakes region it is known as blue pike, yellow pike, green 
pike and grass pike. In the Ohio valley and western North Caro- 






FISHES OF NEW YORK 495 

lina it is the jack; in Lake Erie and Canada, the pickerel; in 
some parts of the Ohio valley, the white salmon or jack salmon. 
The Cree Indians call it the okow and the French Canadians dore 
or picarel. Among the fur traders of British America it is called 
the hornfish. 

The pike perch or wall-eyed pike inhabits the Great lakes 
region and extends northward into British America, where it 
has been recorded as far as 58° north by Dr Kichardson. It 
ranges south in the Mississippi valley to Arkansas, and in At- 
lantic streams to Georgia. According to Dr Meek the species is 
found in Cayuga lake, but is not common. In Lake Champlain 
it is one of the principal game fishes. James Annin jr of Cale- 
donia obtained specimens in the Canandaigua lake region. It 
has been introduced into numerous lakes by the Fisheries, Game 
and Forest Commission of New York. The U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion secured examples in the Oswego river at Oswego and at 
Point Breeze in August 1894. 

This species is said to reach a weight of 50 pounds, but the 
average weight of the market specimens is less than 5 pounds. 
In the Susquehanna it occasionally reaches 10 pounds or upward 
in weight. The pike perch feeds on the bottom on other fishes, 
and has been charged even with destroying its own young. It 
prefers clear and rapid waters, and lurks under submerged logs 
and rocks, from which it can readily dart on its prey. Spawning 
takes place in April and May, and in Pennsylvania continues 
till June. Favorite spawning localities are on sandy bars in 
shallow water. The period of hatching varies from about 14 to 
30 days, depending on the temperature of the water. The eggs 
vary from about 17 to 25 to the inch, and a single female has been 
estimated to contain from 200,000 to 300,000. In a state of nature 
only a small percentage of the eggs are hatched out; the greater 
proportion are driven on the lake shores by storms or devoured 
by fishes on the spawning beds. The number of pike perch annu- 
ally hatched by artificial methods is enormous. This advance is 
due to improvements in the treatment of adhesive eggs. For- 
merly these were hatched by placing them on glass plates, to 



496 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

which they readily adhere. Recently it has been found that the 
sticky substance can be washed off the eggs, after which they 
are placed in jars and hatched like eggs of the shad and 
whitefish. 

" Dexter," in Forest and Stream, Aug. 14, 1890, makes the fol- 
lowing statement about the habits of this species in the lakes. 

These fish run up the rivers before or as soon as the ice is out, 
and after spawning lie off the river's mouth feeding on and off 
the sand flats, as the spring rains bring down plenty of -worms, 
and probably other matter which they feed on. As soon as the 
water gets warm, they sag off and work along the shores in 10 
to 30 feet of water, preferring cobbly bottom; from here they go 
into very deep water, coming on the reefs to feed, and when the 
wind blows very hard, or for a day or so after a big blow, you 
will find them right on top of a reef. I think the wind changes 
the water over the reefs, making a new current and cooler water, 
so they come up to feed. They are a bottom fish, and to fish for 
them successfully one must go to the bottom for them. They are 
nearly as particular as salmon trout about the water they inhabit 
and consequently rank very high as a food fish, being white, solid 
and extremely free from bones. 

The colors of the pike perch change remarkably with age. The 
young have oblique dark bands much like those of the kingfish 
of our east coast, and bear little resemblance in the pattern of 
coloration to the parent. The eye of the living fish is like a glow- 
ing emerald. The rate of growth must be rapid. In July 1888 
we took examples from 4 to 6 inches long, some of which seemed 
to be the young of the year. 

This is one of the finest food and game fishes of the United 
States. Its flesh is firm and white, flaky and well flavored. Com- 
mercially the species ranks high in the Great lakes region, being 
next in importance to the whitefish. In angling for the pike 
perch live minnows are used in preference to all other baits, par- 
ticularly such as are more or less transparent and with silvery 
sides, as the fallfish or dace, the corporal roach, the redfin and 
the gudgeon. On some parts of the Susquehanna, between 
Columbia and Harrisburg, the favorite mode of capture is by 
trolling with the spoon with the same kind of tackle as is used 
for the black bass. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 497 

James Annin jr of Caledonia sent two individuals Ap. 23, 1896, 

for identification. They furnished the following notes and 

measurements in inches. 

9 6 

Length, including caudal 18% 18 

Length to end of middle caudal rays. . 18 17% 

Depth of body 3% 3% 

Least depth of caudal peduncle 1% V/± 

Length of head 43,4 4% 

Length of snout , V-A V/s 

Diameter of eye U t§ 

Length of maxilla 2 1% 

Length of mandible 2% 2V 2 

Dorsal XIV, I, 21 XIV, I, 20 

Anal Ill, 11 III, 11 

Scales 92 93 

The pyloric caeca are long and loaded with fat. The male is 
brassy; the female gray and whitish. 

In November of 1896 and 1897 Mr Annin shipped adult individ- 
uals from Canandaigua lake by express without an attendant, 
and there was scarcely any loss of fish in transportation, though 
the journey lasts 12 hours. 

The blue pike of Lake Erie, or white salmon of the Ohio river, 
was formerly distinguished by name from the common pike 
perch, but is now considered unworthy of a separate name. This 
is a very small variety seldom exceeding 15 inches in length and 
a weight of 2 pounds. The dorsal has 14 spines and 20 rays. 
The spines are rather lower than in the pike perch, the colora- 
tion similar, but the adult is bluish or greenish and has no brassy 
mottling. The fins are darker, and there is a trace of a band 
along the dorsal, besides the black blotch on the hind portion. 

Jordan & Evermann say of this variety: "The name sal- 
mo n e u m has been applied to the so called ' blue pike ' origin- 
ally described from the Ohio river, but more common in the Great 
lakes, particularly Ontario and Erie. It is smaller and deeper 
In body than the ordinary v i t r e u m and different in color, but 
it is not likely that any permanent distinctions exist, this 
species, as usual among fresh-water fishes, varying largely with 
the environment and with age." 



498 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Subgenus cynoperca Gill & Jordan 

244 Stizostedion canadense (Smith) 

Sanger; Sand Pike 

Lucioperca canadensis C. H. Smith, in Griffith's Cuv. RegneAnim. X, 275,„ 
pi. 7, 1834; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 19, pi. 68, fig. 221, 1842' 
(extraliinital) ; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 75, 1859. 

Stizostedium canadense Jokdan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 526, 
1883. 

Stizostedion canadense Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 314, 1888; Bean, 
Fishes Penna. 130, pi. 34, fig. 70. 1893; Evermann & Kendall, Kept. 
U. S. F. C. for 1894, 601. 1896; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 1022, 1896, pi. OLXIV, fig. 434, 1900. 

Body slender, not much compressed, roundish; its depth con- 
tained four and one half to five times in the total without caudal. 
The head is pointed, about two sevenths of standard length 
and contains the eye five to five and one half times. The 
mouth is smaller than in the pike perch; the maxilla reaches to 
the hind margin of the eye. D. XII to XIII, I, 17 to 18; A. II, 
12. Scales 92 to 98; 4 to 7 pyloric caeca, unequal in size and 
all of them shorter than the stomach. 

Color olivaceous above; sides brassy or pale orange, mottled 
with black in the form of irregular dark blotches, which are 
best defined under the soft dorsal. The spinous dorsal has 
several rows of round black spots on the membrane between 
the spines; no black blotch on the hind part of the spinous 
dorsal. Pectorals with a large dark blotch at base; soft dorsal 
with several rows of dark spots irregularly placed; caudal yel- 
lowish with dark spots forming interrupted bars. 

The sauger is known also as sand pike, gray pike and green 
pike, pickering, pickerel and horsefish. It is found in the St 
Lawrence river and Great lakes region, the upper Mississippi 
and Missouri rivers and in the Ohio, where it is said to have 
been introduced from the lakes through canals. This is a small 
fish, seldom exceeding 18 inches in length, and embraces several 
varieties. It is very common in the Great lakes and is abun- 
dant in the Ohio river. It is doubtful whether it is native to 
Ohio or introduced. It is also found rarely in Cayuga lake. 
Rev. Zadock Thompson, in his History of Yermont, says it is much 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 499 

less common in Lake Champlain than the pike perch, but is fre- 
quently taken in company with it. It usually swims very near 
the bottom of the water, and hence it has received the name of 
ground pike (pike perch). As an article of food this species is 
locally held in the same high esteem as the common pike perch. 

John W. Titcomb of St Johnsbury Vt. informed Evermann 
and Kendall that the sauger, or rock pike, as it is locally called, 
is caught in seines while fishing for the pike perch. It does 
not grow as large as the latter, and is not much valued as a food 
fish. The authors mentioned received two examples of the fish 
from A. L. Collins of Swanton Vt., one of them a nearly ripe 
female 14J inches long, weighing three fourths of a pound, the 
other an unripe male 15 inches long, weighing three fourths of 
a pound. These specimens were believed to indicate that the 
sauger spawns earlier than the pike perch. The stomach of the 
male contained a three inch minnow, too badly digested for 
identification, and a number of small insects. 

It is very extensively used for food, but is not generally con- 
sidered equal to the pike perch. 

245 Stizostedion canadense griseum (DeKay) 
G-ray Pike; Sauger; Sand Pike 

Lucioperca grisea De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 19, 1842, Great Lakes; 

streams and inland lakes of western New York; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. 

Brit. Mus. I, 76, 1859. 
Lucioperca pepinus Estes, in Haixock's Sportman's Gazetteer, 322, 1877, 

Lake Pepin. 
Stizostedium canadense var. griseum Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 526, 1883. 
Stizostedion canadense griseum Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 1022, 1896. 

This is the common sand pike or sauger of the Great lakes 
region and south west ward. It differs from the typical cana- 
dense chiefly in the smoother opercles and head bones, the 
fewer opercular spines, and the less complete scaling of the 
head. The two need fuller comparison and may prove to be 
distinct species, but this is unlikely. Length 10 to 18 inches. 



500 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Genus perca (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body oblong, somewhat compressed, the back elevated; 
cheeks scaly; opercles mostly naked; the operculum armed with 
a single spine; preopercle and shoulder girdle serrated; pre- 
opercle with retrorse, hooked serrations below; mouth moder- 
ate, terminal; premaxillaries protractile; teeth in villiform 
bands on jaws, .vomer, and palatines, no canine teeth; bran- 
chiostegals seven; gill membranes separate; pseudobranchiae 
small, but perfect; no anal papilla; scales rather small, strongly 
ctenoid, lateral line complete, the tubes straight and not extend- 
ing to the extremity of the scale; dorsal fins entirely separate, 
the first of 12 to 16 spines; anal fin with two slender spines, 
well separated from the soft rays; ventral spines well devel- 
oped, the ventral fins near together; caudal emarginate; air- 
bladder present; pyloric caeca three; vertebrae very numerous, 
21+20 or 21=41 or 42. Fresh waters of northern regions; three 
closely related species now known, Perca fluviatilis in 
Europe, P. schrenckii in Asia, and P. flavescens in 
North America. 

246 Perca flavescens (Mit chill) 
Yellow Perch; Ring Perch 

Morone flavescens Mitchell, Report in Part, 18, 1814. . 

Bodianus flavescens Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 421, 1815. 

Perca serrato-granulata Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II, 47, 

1828, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 5, pi. 22, fig. 64, 1842. 
Perca granulata Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. II, 48, % pi. IX, 1828, New 

York; De Kay, op. cit. 5, pi. 68, fig. 220, 1842. 
Perca acuta Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. II, 40, pi. X, 1828; De Kay, op. 

cit. 6, pi. 68, fig. 222, 1842. 
Perca gracilis Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. II, 50, 1828, Skaneateles 

Lake, N. Y.; De Kay, op. cit. 6, 1842; Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 

I, 60, 1859. 
Perca amiericana Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus, 524, 1883. 
Perca flavescens Cuvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. II, 46, 1828; De Kay, op. 

cit 3, pi. 1, fig. 1, 1842; Gunther, op. cit. 1, 59, 1859; 

Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 4, pi. II, fig. 1, 1867; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac 

Sci. IV, 314, 1888; Bean, Fishes Penna. 126, color pi. 12, 1893; Ever- 

mann & Kendall, Rept. U. S. F. C. for 1894, 602, 1896; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1023, 1896, pi. CLXV, fig. 435, 

1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 365, 1897; Mearns, Bull. 

Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 320, 1898; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. 

N. Y. 1897, 37, 1898. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 501 

The yellow perch has a fusiform and moderately elongate 
body, its greatest hight at the ventral origin two sevenths of 
the total length without the caudal and nearly equal to the 
length of the head. The least depth of the caudal peduncle 
equals one third of length of head. The greatest width of the 
body equals one half its greatest hight. The head is moderately 
long, its length contained three and one fourth times in the 
standard, with pointed snout, one and one third times as long 
as the eye. The interorbital region is flat, its width one and 
one half times the diameter of the eye. The mouth is rather 
large, the jaws equal, and the maxilla reaching to below middle 
of pupil. The preopercle is coarsely dentate on its hind 
margin, the teeth on the superior border directed partly upward 
and partly backward, those on the lower limb pointing down- 
ward and some of them forward. The scapula and humerus 
are finely serrate. Scales on the cheeks in about 13 rows from 
before backward; a single row or two imperfect rows of scales 
on the subopercle; four short rows of scales on the upper an- 
terior part of the opercle. Gill rakers 6+14, the longest one 
half as long as the eye. The spinous dorsal begins over the 
base of the pectoral; the first spine is one third as long as the 
head to the end of the opercular spine; the fourth and longest 
spine is as long as the eye and snout combined; the last spine 
is minute and concealed in the dorsal furrow. The soft dorsal 
in the specimen described is preceded by two spines, the first 
two thirds as long as the eye and one half as long as the second; 
the longest ray is as long as the longest spine, and twice as 
long as the last ray. The ventral origin is under the fourth 
spine of the dorsal; the fin equals one fifth of the total length 
without the caudal. The anal origin is under the fourth or 
fifth soft dorsal ray; the first anal spine one third as long, as 
the head and nearly as long as the second; the last anal ray 
less than one half as long as the longest, which is one half as 
long as the head. The caudal is notched, the middle rays con- 
tained one and one third times in the length of the outer rays. 
The pectoral is as long as the ventral. D. XV, II, 13; A. II, 8; 



502 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

V. I, 5; P. 15. Scales 7-57-13. The lateral line curves upward 
in a long curve following the dorsal outline till below the end 
of the soft dorsal, where it becomes straight and median. Color 
olivaceous varying into greenish or bluish, the sides yellow, with 
about six to eight dark bands, the widest wider than the eye is 
long. The upper fins are olivaceous, the lower orange and rosy. 
The specimen described, no. 22862, U. S. National Museum, 
Washington D. C, is 9 inches long. 

The yellow perch, ringed perch or striped perch is found 
throughout the Great lakes region, rivers and ponds of New 
England and northwestward, and in streams east of the 
Alleghanies south to Georgia. It does not occur in the Ohio 
valley or southwest, though, after the construction of the Ohio 
canal, Kirtland recorded it from the Ohio river. In 1790 
Dr Mitchill transferred some of them from Ronkonkoma to Suc- 
cess pond, a distance of 40 miles, where they soon multiplied. 
In 1825 yellow perch were transported from Skaneateles to 
Otisco lake and Onondaga lake; in the latter they increased re- 
markably. In Otsego lake DeKay caught some weighing nearly 
three pounds. Meek states that the species is common through- 
out the Cayuga lake basin. Evermann and Bean took it in the 
St Lawrence river, 3 miles below Ogdensburg; also in Scioto 
creek, Coopersville N. Y., July 19, 1894, young specimens 1J to If 
inches long. In the Lake Ontario region the U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion collectors obtained it at the localities in this state here 
mentioned. 

Mouth of Salmon river 

Mouth of Little Salmon creek 

Black creek, tributary of Oswego river, Scriba Corners 

Sandy creek, Hamlin 

Grenadier island 

Stony island 

Chaumont river 

Outlet of Long pond, Charlotte 

Little Stony brook, Henderson bay 

Cape Vincent 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 503 

Creek at Pultneyville 

Great Sodus bay 

Four Mile creek, 1 mile above mouth 

Lakeview hotel, 7 m. n. e. of Oswego 

Three Mile creek, near Oswego 

Long pond, Charlotte 

Salt brook, 1J miles above Nine Mile point. 

The yellow perch is one of the most abundant fishes of Lake 
Champlain and in the mouths of rivers falling into that lake. 

The fish abounds in the parks of New York and Brooklyn. 
In the Hudson Highlands Dr Mearns reported it as abundant 
in the Hudson as well as in all of the larger mountain lakes 
and ponds. It habitually frequents Poplopen's creek from its 
source to its mouth. In the Hudson, he was informed, it is 
unusual to take specimens weighing more than 1 pound; but in 
Poplopen's pond he has taken a number that weighed about 2 
pounds each. In the same pond Jerome Denna caught two 
which weighed 2J to 3 pounds each; and a fisherman named 
Samuel Runnels assured Dr Mearns that he had taken a yellow 
perch there which weighed 4J pounds. The fish continue to 
feed in that region throughout the winter. Eugene Smith ob- 
tained the fish in Greenwood lake, Orange co., and in Hacken- 
sack streams, in Rockland county. 

The species reaches a length of 1 foot and weight of two 
pounds. It is one of the best known of our food fishes and has 
excellent game qualities. Its flesh, however, is rather soft and 
coarse and is far inferior to that of the black bass and other 
members of the sunfish family. It is a voracious feeder, its 
food consisting of small fishes, crustaceans, and other animal 
matter. 

The yellow perch spawns early in the spring. The eggs are 
adhesive and inclosed in thin translucent strips of adhesive 
mucus. The spawning of this species was described by William 
P. Seal in Forest and Stream of Ap. 17, 1890. The spawning 
season extends from December to April. Mr Seal describes the 
egg mass as having the shape of a long tube, closed at the ends 



504 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and arranged in folds like the bellows of an accordion. When 
folded the mass was about 8 to 12 inches long, but was capable 
of being drawn out to a length of 3 or 4 feet. Spawning in the 
aquarium took place at night and was observed by William 
Maynard, who describes it as follows. " The female remained 
quiet in one spot on the bottom of one of the hatching aquaria 
tanks, one or more of the males hovering over and about her 
with pectoral fins vibrating with intense activity. The males 
would at times lie close alongside of her and at other times 
endeavor to force themselves under her with the evident inten- 
tion of assisting in the extrusion of the eggs." Mr Seal remarks 
that " the roe when taken from the dead fish not yet ripe is in 
a single compact mass, covered by a thin membrane; but in 
spawning the mass separates, one side being spawned before 
the other." This was noticed in a specimen which had spawned 
one side and appeared to be unable to get rid of the other. It 
was stripped from her and artificially fertilized successfully. 
Mr Seal believes that the yellow perch spawns at the age of 
one year. 

The yellow perch thrives moderately in captivity, though sus- 
ceptible to attacks of fungus, which are easily overcome by the 
use of brackish water. Its food in captivity consists chiefly of 
chopped hard clams; sometimes live killifish are used. 

Genus percina Haldeman 
Body elongate, slightly compressed, covered with small, 
ctenoid scales; lateral line continuous; ventral line with en- 
larged plates which fall off, leaving a naked strip; head 
depressed, rather pointed, the mouth being small and inferior, 
overlapped by a tapering, subtruncate, piglike snout; upper 
jaw not protractile, maxillary small, exposed; teeth on vomer 
and palatines, gill membranes scarcely connected; dorsal fins 
well separated, the first the larger, of 13 to 15 spines, the second 
dorsal rather longer than the anal, which has two spines, the 
first of which is usually the shorter; pectorals symmetric, 
rounded or bluntly pointed, their rays 14 or 15, their spines 
moderate; ventral fins well separated, the interspace about 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 505 

equal to their base; air bladder and pseudobranchiae present, 
rudimentary; vertebrae (P. caprodes) 23+21=44. General 
pattern of coloration olivaceous, with dark vertical bands alter- 
nately long and short. Size largest of the darters, approach- 
ing that of A s p r o , a genus to which it is more nearly related 
than the other darters are. 

247 Percina caprodes (Rafinesque) 
Log Perch; Hogmolhj 

Sciaena caprodes Rafinesque, Am. Month. Mag. 534, 1818, fide Jordan & 

Etermann. 
Etheostoma caprodes Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien, 38, 1820; Stoker, Syn. 

Fish. N. A. 18, 1846; Bean, Fishes Penna. 122, pi. 33, fig. 68, 1893. 
Pileoma semifasciatum De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 16, pi. 50, fig. 162, 

1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 76, 1859. 
Percina caprodes Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 499, 1883; 

Evermann & Kendall, Rept. U. S. F. C. for 1894, 602, 1896; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1026, 1896, pi. CEXV, fig. 436, 

436a, 1900. 

Body long, moderately compressed; head long, with pointed 
snout; mouth small, the lower jaw not reaching near to tip of 
snout, and the maxilla not extending to the front of the eye. 
The head forms one fourth of the total length without the 
caudal, and the depth equals about one sixth. Scales on cheeks 
and gill covers, also on the space before the first dorsal; breast 
scaleless. A row of enlarged plates on the belly, which are 
sometimes deciduous. Fins moderately low and rather long. 
D. XV, 15; A. II, 9. Lateral line with 92 scales. Color green- 
ish yellow; sides with about 15 dark cross bands, extending 
from back to belly; alternating with these above the lateral 
line are fainter bars. Fins barred. A black spot at the base 
of the caudal. 

The log perch, hogfish, hogmolly, rockfish or crawl-a-bottom 
is found in the Great lakes region, Quebec and the eastern states 
south to Virginia, also in the Mississippi valley south to Ala- 
bama and Texas. De Kay obtained it at Westport on Lake 
Ohamplain, where it appeared to be very abundant, as well as 
in many streams in that vicinity. Its local name there he gives 
as little pickerel or pickerel, which it shared in common with 



506 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

many other species. Evermann and Kendall had it from 
Rouse Point and Plattsburg, on the west shore of Lake Cham- 
plain. 

This is the largest of the darters, reaching a length of 8 
inches, and in many respects resembles the perches. It takes 
the hook very readily. The log perch is found in rapid streams 
with gravelly or rocky bottom and prefers clear waters. 

248 Percina caprodes zebra (Agassiz) 

Manitmi Darter 

Pileoma zebra Agassiz, Lake Superior, 308, pi. IV, fig. 4, 1850. 

Percina manitou Jordan, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 53, 1877. 

Percina caprodes var. manitou Jordan and Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 500, 1883. 
Percina caprodes zebra Jordan and Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

1027, 1896. 

Head four and one fourth; depth seven; nape always naked; 
lateral black bars short, shorter than in caprodes, not 
extending much above lateral line, these also more or less con- 
fluent, about 20 in number; a black caudal spot; dorsal and 
caudal mottled. D. XV-14 ; A. II, 10. Scales 90. 

Lakes of northern Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and north- 
ward to Lake Superior; the common form in the Great lakes. 
The typical zebra is well distinguished from caprodes, 
but specimens variously intermediate have been obtained in 
Illinois by Dr Forbes, and in the Potomac by Dr Bean. (After 
Jordan and Evermann) 

Evermann and Bean obtained the Manitou darter in the 
Racket river, at Norfolk N. Y. and in the St Lawrence 3 miles 
below Ogdensburg; also in Scioto creek, at Coopersville N. Y. 
Collectors for the U. S. Fish Commission secured specimens at 
the following places in 1893 : 

Nine Mile point, Lake Ontario June 11 

Grenadier island June 27 

Horse island, Sackett's Harbor June 30 

Mouth Salmon river, Selkirk July 25 

Mouth Little Salmon creek July 25 

Marsh creek, Point Breeze . Aug. 2 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 507 

Genus hadropteris Agassiz 
Body rather elongate, compressed or not; mouth rather wide, 
terminal, the lower jaw included, the snout above not protruding 
beyond the premaxillaries, which are not protractile; teeth on 
vomer and usually on palatines also; gill membranes separate 
or more or less connected; scales small, ctenoid, covering the 
body; belly with a median series of more or less enlarged 
spinous plates or ctenoid scales, which in most species fall off 
•at intervals, leaving a naked strip, in some species persistent 
•and but slightly enlarged; sides of head scaly or not; lateral line 
•complete or nearly so; fins large, the soft dorsal smaller than 
the spinous or the anal; anal spines two (one of them very 
rarely obsolete); dorsal spines 10 to 15; ventral fins more or 
less widely separated, specially in species with caducous plates. 
Vertebrae 39 to 44; H. as pro, 19+23=42; H. evides, 
18+22=40; H. s c i e r u s, 18+22=40; H. phoxocephalus, 
19+20=39. Parietal region more or less depressed, not strongly 
■convex in cross-section; supra-occipital crest usually present, 
but small. Pyloric caeca two to four. Coloration bright, often 
brilliant, sides usually with dark blotches. 

Subgenus alvordius Grirard 

249 Hadropterus aspro (Cope & Jordan) 

Black-sided Darter 

Alvordius aspro Cope & Jordan, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 51, 1877, substi- 
tute for Etheostoma blennioides of Kirtland and Agassiz; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 501, 1883. 

Etheostoma aspro Bean, Fishes Penna. 123, 1893. 

Hadropterus aspro Jordan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1032, 1898, 
pi. CDXVI, fig. 438, 1900. ■ 

Body slender, fusiform, elongate, its greatest depth one sixth 
of length without caudal; least depth of caudal peduncle nearly 
one third of length of head; head rather long and pointed, one 
fourth of total length without caudal; the maxilla extends 
slightly past front of eye; the mandible is included; the eye large, 
equal to length of snout and to one fourth the length of head; 
gill membranes slightly connected; postorbital part of head a 
little longer than the remainder; the nape scaly or naked; cheeks 



508 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

with very small scales, sometimes hardly visible; large scales 
on opercles; dorsal origin at a distance from eye equal to length 
of pectoral, base of spinous dorsal nearly equal to one third of 
total length without caudal, fourth to seventh spines longest, 
equal to snout and eye combined, last spine two thirds as long 
as the first and equal to snout; base of second dorsal one half 
as long as first, the longest ray twice as long as last ray and 
equal to postorbital part of head; the caudal peduncle rather 
long and slender, from end of second dorsal to end of scales 
being nearly equal to the head; caudal fin slightly emarginate, 
the middle rays three fourths as long as the external, and one 
third of length of head; the anal origin at a distance from tip 
of snout equaling twice the length of spinous dorsal base, the 
anal base equal to postorbital length of head, the two spines 
nearly equal, about one third as long as the head, the longest 
ray (fifth) equal to one half the length of spinous dorsal base; the 
ventral not far behind the base of the pectoral, its length about 
one half the distance from its origin to origin of anal; pectoral 
one fifth of total length to end of middle caudal rays; lateral 
line straight, extending from eye to base of caudal fin; breast 
naked; a series of enlarged caducous scales on median line of 
-belly. D. XII to XV, 11 to 13; A. II, 8 to 10; V. I, 5; P. 14. 
Scales 9-65 to 80-17; vertebrae 19+23=42; pyloric cacea three. 

The sides are straw colored or greenish yellow, with dark 
tessellations and marblings above and with about seven large 
dark blotches, which are partly confluent; the fins are barred, 
and there is a small spot at the base of the caudal. 

The black-sided darter, or blenny darter, is found in the Great 
lakes region westward to Manitoba and southward to Missouri, 
Indiana, Kentucky and Arkansas, being specially abundant in 
the Ohio valley. The U. S. Fish Commission had it from Marsh 
creek, Point Breeze. It prefers clear streams with gravelly bot- 
toms and is more active in its habits than most of the other 
darters, not concealing itself so closely under stones. It grows 
to the length of 4 inches. As an aquarium fish it is unsurpassed 
by any of its kindred, and its sudden and remarkable changes 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 509 

of brilliant colors during the breeding season render it unusually 

attractive. 

Genus cottogaster Putnam 

Body rather robust, little compressed; head moderate, 
bluntish; mouth moderate or small; the lower jaw included; 
premaxillaries protractile or occasionally (in s h u m a r d i) 
joined by a narrow frenum to the frontal region; maxillary not 
adherent to the preorbital; teeth on vomer; gill membranes 
nearly separate; scales ctenoid; the middle line of the belly 
anteriorly naked or with caducous scales; lateral line continu- 
ous; dorsal fins large, the second usually smaller than the first 
and smaller than the anal; anal spines two, the first the longer; 
pyloric; caeca three; vertebrae 18+20^38 (c o p e 1 a n d i); skull 
short, the frontal region not very narrow, parietals little convex 
transversely, sutures distinct; no supra-occipital crest. Colora- 
tion not brilliant. Size moderate. 

250 Cottogaster copelandi (Jordan) 
Copeland's Darter 

Boleosoma tessellation Thompson, Appendix Hist. Vermont, 5, 1853, not of 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 20, 1842. 
Rheocrypta copelandi Joed an, Bull, 10, TL S. Nat. Mus. 9, 1877. 
Cottogaster putnami Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 498, 1883. 
Cottogaster copelandi Jordan & Etermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1045, 

1896. 

Body rather slender and elongate, the depth being contained 
from five and one half to six and one half times in the length; 
head rather large and long, somewhat narrowed, resembling that 
of- Boleosoma. Its length is contained from three and 
three fourths to four and one fourth times in the length of the 
body. Mouth small, horizontal, subinferior; cheeks naked; 
opercles and neck each with few scales; throat naked; ventral 
plates well developed; scales moderate, strongly ctenoid; 
pectoral as long as head. D. X to XII-10 to 12; A. II, 8 or 9. 
Scales 6-44 to 56-8. 

Color brownish olive; a series of rather small, horizontally 
oblong, black blotches along the lateral line, forming an inter- 
rupted lateral band; back tessellated; blackish streaks forward 



510 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and downward from eye; ventral fins dusky in the male; vertical 
fins with dusky specks; a small inklike speck at base of caudal 
persistent in most specimens; a black spot on anterior rays of 
spinous dorsal. 

Length 2^ to 3 inches. Great lakes region, from Lake Cham- 
plain to Lake Huron; represented in New York waters by the 
subspecies C. p u t n a m i . 

251 Cottogaster cheneyi Evermann & Kendall 

Cottogaster cheneyi Eveemann & Kendall, Bull. U. S. F. C.1897, 129, pi. 8, 
fig. 8, 1898, Racket River near Norfolk, N. Y.; Jordan & Eveemann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2851, 1898. 

Head four; depth six; eye four in head; snout four; maxillary 
three and one half; iuterorbital width five and one half. D. 
XI-12; A. II, 8. Scales 7-56-6. Body rather stout, heavy for- 
ward, compressed behind; head heavy; mouth moderate, slightly 
oblique, lower jaw included, maxillary reaching front of pupil; 
premaxillaries protractile; cheeks, opercles, breast, and nape 
entirely naked; scales of body large and strongly ctenoid; lat- 
eral line complete, straight; median line of belly naked ante- 
riorly, with ordinary scales posteriorly; fins large; dorsals sep- 
arated by a space equal to half diameter of eye, origin of 
spinous dorsal a little nearer origin of soft dorsal than tip of 
snout, its base about equal to length of head, longest dorsal 
spine two and one half in head, the outline of the fin gently 
and regularly rounded; soft dorsal higher than spinous portion, 
the second to 10th rays about equal in length, scarcely twice 
in head, the first, 11th, and 12th rays but slightly shorter than 
the others; anal moderate, its origin under base of third dorsal 
ray, the spines slender, the second a little longer than the first, 
whose length is three and three fourths in head, longest anal 
rays about two and one fifth in head; caudal lunate, the lobes 
more produced and pointed than usual among darters; pectorals 
long and pointed, the middle rays longest, about one and one 
sixth in head, reaching tips of ventrals; ventrals well separated, 
not nearly reaching vent, the longest rays one and one fourth 
in head. Color in alcohol, back dark brownish, covered with 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 511 

irregular spots and blotches of darker; side with about eight 
or nine large dark spots lying on the lateral line; belly pale; 
top of head dark; snout black; lower jaw and throat dark; a 
broad black line downward from eye to throat; cheek and 
opercles rusty; spinous dorsal crossed by a median dark line; 
ventrals blue black; other fins pale, but dusted with rusty 
specks. 

An examination of the 14 cotypes shows some variation in 
the species. In two examples there is a well developed frenum, 
rendering the premaxillaries nonprotractile, and in a third 
specimen the frenum is partially developed; in some individuals 
the origin of the spinous dorsal is exactly midway between the 
tip of snout and origin of soft dorsal. The females and imma- 
ture males are less highly colored than the adult male 
described above. Length If to 2^ inches. 

This species seems most closely related to Cottog aster 
shumardi, from which it may be readily distinguished by 
the shorter snout, the naked cheeks and opercles, the smaller 
soft dorsal, the smaller anal and the coloration. 

15 examples of this interesting darter were obtained July 18, 
1894, by Evermann and Bean in the Kacket river near Norfolk, 
St Lawrence co. N. Y. It did not seem to be very common, as 
only 15 examples resulted from numerous hauls of the collecting 
seine. 

Named for A. Nelson Cheney, state fish culturist of New York 

in recognition of his valuable contributions to our knowledge 

of the food and game fishes of that state. (After Evermann 

and Kendall) 

Genus diplesion Rafinesque 

Body rather elongate, subterete ; head very short and blunt, 

with tumid cheeks; the profile very convex; mouth small, 

inferior, horizontal; premaxillaries protractile, little movable, 

joined to the forehead mesially by a slight frenum; maxillary 

not protractile, adnate for most of its length to the fleshy skin 

of the preorbital; lower jaw very short; teeth in jaws strong, 

no teeth on vomer or palatines; gill membranes broadly con- 



512 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

nected; gill rakers very short; scales moderate, rough; lateral 
line complete; no enlarged ventral plates; dorsal fins large, the 
spinous dorsal longer and lower than the second, of about 13 
spines; anal smaller than second dorsal, with two strong spines; 
ventrals moderately separated; pectorals long, symmetric; ver- 
tebrae (blennioides) 19+23=42; pyloric caeca four; frontal 
region of skull very narrow, ethmoid region abruptly decurved, 
parietal region moderately convex (less so than in E t h e o - 
stoma, more so than in B o 1 e o s o m a) ; no supraoccipital 
crest. Coloration largely green. 

252 Diplesion blennioides (Eafinesque) 
Green-sided Darter 

Etheostoma (Diplesion) blennioides Bafinesqtje, Journ. de Physique, 419, 

1819. 
Etheostoma olennioides Bean, Fishes Penna. 121, 1893. 
Diplesion blennioides Joed an & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 497, 1883; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1053, 1896, pi. OLXX, 

fig. 449, 1900. 

The body is stout and long; the head moderate in size, its 
length contained four and one half times in the total without 
caudal and slightly exceeding the depth of the body; mouth 
small; lower jaw included within the upper; eyes large, placed 
high and narrowly separated by a longitudinal furrow; scales 
rather small except some larger ones on the belly, which are not 
shed; cheeks finely scaled; gill covers with large scales; nape 
scaly; breast naked. The males have a large anal papilla. 
Anal spines stout; caudal fin notched. Males have the lower 
pectoral rays and the ventral and anal rays enlarged and thick- 
ened. D. XIII-13; A. 11} 8. Scales 65 to 78; vertebrae 42. 

Color olive green; upper parts tessellated; sides with seven 
or eight double crossbars, each forming a Y-shaped figure, these 
bars sometimes joined above so as to form an undulating lat- 
eral band and clear deep green in life, and the sides speckled 
with orange. There is a dark bar from the eye forward and 
another downward, besides some olive stripes on the head. 
Spinous dorsal blue above with a pale margin and dark orange 
brown at base; soft dorsal and anal deep blue green tinged with 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 513 

red; caudal greenish with faint bars. Females and young are 
less conspicuously colored, but in the same general pattern. 

The green-sided darter extends from Pennsylvania westward 
to Kansas and south to Alabama, The U. S. Fish Commission 
had specimens from Sandy creek, North Hamlin N. Y., Aug. 20. 

The species is notable for its beauty; it grows to a length of 5 
inches; it is common in gravelly streams and occurs only in clear 
water. In habits it is similar to the Johnny darter, but it is less 
tenacious of life than that fish. In the aquarium it is shy and 
retiring, spending most of its time in the concealment of water 
plants or decorative rock work. 

Genus boleosoma De Kay 
Body moderately elongate, fusiform, but slightly translucent; 
head small, narrowed forward, the profile convex; mouth small, 
horizontal, the lower jaw included; premaxillary protractile; 
maxillaries not adnate to preorbital; vomerine teeth present; 
scales large; lateral line continuous or interrupted behind; belly 
with ordinary scales; gill membranes broadly or narrowly con- 
nected; dorsal spines usually nine, very slender and flexible, soft 
dorsal much larger than anal; anal normally with a single, short, 
slender spine, the first soft ray simple, but articulate; ventrals 
well separated; vertebrae (B. nigrum) 15+22=37; pyloric 
caeca three to six; frontal region of skull very short and narrow; 
parietal region flattish above; no supraoccipital crest.' Colora- 
tion olivaceous and speckled, the males with inky black in spring; 
no red or blue. Size small. Very active little fishes, abounding 
among weeds in clear streams. 

253 Boleosoma nigrum (Rafinesque) 
Johnny Darter 

Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesqtje, Ichthyol. Ohien, 37, 1820; Bean, Fishes 

Penna. 120, 1893. 
Boleosoma maculatum Agassiz, Lake Superior, 305, pi. IV, fig. 3, 1850, Fort 

William; Gttnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 77, 1859. 
Boleosoma nigrum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 492, 1883; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1056, 1896, pi OLXX, 

fig. 450, 1900. 

The body is slender, spindle-shaped. The conical head is con- 
tained slightly more than four times and the depth about five 



514 • NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

times in the total length. The snout is somewhat decurvecL 
Mouth small and the lower jaw included within the upper. The 
gill covers are scaly, cheeks naked except in occasional individ- 
uals, and the nape is usually scaled. The fins are high, but lower 
and smaller than in other species of Boleosoma. D. VIII 
to X, 10-14; A. I. 7 to 9; scales 5-44 to 55-9. 

Color olivaceous; the back with brown tessellations; sides with 
many W-shaped blotches. The head is speckled above; in males 
generally black. In the breeding season the whole anterior part 
of the male is often black. A dark line forward from the eye 
and sometimes another downward. This is one of the small 
species, attaining a length of only 2-J inches. It is found on the 
bottom in clear small brooks, where it lies partly concealed by 
sand, and changes its colors according to its surroundings. 

The Johnny darter ranges from western Pennsylvania to Mis- 
souri and Dakota. In the Great lakes region it is abundant, 
and it is one of the commonest darters in the streams of Ohio. 
It does not occur in eastern Pennsylvania. In New York it ap- 
pears to occur in the Great lakes region only. 

254 Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi (Storer) 
Tessellated/ Darter 

Etheostoma olmstedi Storer, Jour. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 61, pi. 5, fig. 2, 1841; 

Hist. Fish. Mass. 30, pi. IV, fig. 1, 1867; Bean, Fishes Penna, 120, 

pi. 33, -fig. 67, 1893. 
Boleosoma olmstedi Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 19, 1879. 
Boleosoma olmstedi Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 492, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat Hist. IX, 365, 1897. 
Etheostoma nigrum olmstedi Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 313, 1888. 
Boleosoma nigrum olmstedi Evermann & Kendall, Kept. U. S. F. C. 1894, 

603, 1896; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1057, 1896, 

pi. CLXXI, fig. 451, 1900; Eugene Smith, Proc. L/inn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 

36, 1898. 
Boleosoma tessellatum De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 20, pi. 20, fig. 57, 1842. 

The head is contained four and one fourth times in total 
length; depth five and one fourth times. The cheeks and opercles- 
are scaly; nape and breast naked. The lateral line is complete, 
with about 50 scales. D. IX, 14; A. I, 9. 

The color is olivaceous; fins with many narrow bars; the back 
tessellated; sides with blotches and zigzag markings. Head in 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 515 

spring males black. A dark streak forward from the eye and 
another downward. 

This darter secretes itself on the bottom in small clear brooks, 
swimming rapidly for a short distance when alarmed. The sexes 
are very different in appearance, the males having higher and 
more brightly colored fins than the females. The males are 
larger than the females and in the spring are much spotted with 
black. The common darter, or tessellated darter, is found from 
Massachusetts to Georgia. It is replaced in Cayuga lake and 
some other regions to the southward by a black spotted variety, 
which differs from the common form still further in having the 
nape and breast closely scaled. De Kay states that it occurs 
in most of the fresh-water streams of the state. It is found in 
Lake Champlain. Evermann and Bean took it in Scioto creek, 
at Coopersville, in the Saranac, at Plattsburg, in the St Law- 
rence river, 3 miles below Ogdensburg, and in Racket river, at 
Norfolk. In the Lake Ontario region the U. S. Fish Commission 
collectors obtained it in the following localities: 

Cape Vincent June 21 

Mud creek, Cape Vincent June 25 

Grenadier island June 27 

Horse island, Sackett's Harbor June 30 

Mill creek, Sackett's Harbor July 2 
Stony Island July 2 and 3 

Little Stony brook, Henderson bay July 4 

Cemetery creek, Watertown July 5 

Guffon creek, Chaumont July 7 

Chaumont river July 10 

Spring brook, Pulaski July 24 

Mouth of Salmon river, Selkirk July 25 

Mouth Little Salmon creek July 25 

Three Mile creek, Oswego July 27 

Great Sodus bay I Aug. 6 

Long pond, Charlotte Aug. 17 

Sandy creek, North Hamlin Aug. 20 



516 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

According to Dr Meek it is common at each end of Cayuga 
lake, but is not found in the streams at the southern end above 
the falls. The species was obtained in small numbers by the 
writer in Bronx river in August, 1897. Eugene Smith has 
obtained it in tidal creeks where the water is impure but not 
saline. It is recorded from streams of Long Island. 

The tessellated darter grows to the length of 3^ inches. It is 
a near relative of the Johnny darter, Boleosoma nigrum 
of Rafinesque. In captivity Eugene Smith has found it delicate, 
able to live only in water of low temperature and not deep 
unless in circulation. In balanced tanks it thrives and feeds 
freely on minced clam, G a m m a r u s , and earthworms, the last 
to be used only occasionally. 

De Kay observed it usually at the bottom of clear springs or 
streams, lying for a while perfectly still near the bottom, and 
then suddenly darting off with great velocity at its prey, a habit 
from which is derived its name of darter. He mentions also 
the name grand-oranchee, applied to it in New York by the de- 
scendants of the Dutch colonists, but this name is not satis- 
factorily explained. 

The best account of the movements of the fish is given by 
Zadock Thompson in his History of Vermont. He noted its power 
of bending its neck and moving its head without moving the 
body, a very unusual faculty among fishes. 

Genus etheostoma Rafinesque 
Body robust, or rather elongate, compressed; mouth terminal, 
or subinferior, varying in size; the lower jaw included or pro- 
jecting; premaxillaries not protractile; maxillary movable; 
teeth rather strong, usually present on vomer and palatines; 
gill membranes separate or more or less broadly connected; 
scales moderate or small, ctenoid, top of head without scales, 
scales of the middle line of the belly persistent and similar to 
the others; lateral line well developed, nearly straight, often 
wanting posteriorly; fins large, with strong spines, first dorsal 
usually longer and larger than the second, with seven to 15 
spines; anal with two strong spines, the anterior usually the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 517 

larger, the second rarely obsolete, anal fin always smaller than 
the soft dorsal; ventral fins more or less close together; skull 
narrow, the parietal region very strongly convex in cross- 
section, supraoccipital crest very small or wanting; lower 
pharyngeals very narrow; vertebrae 33 to 39, usually 15+21=36; 
pyloric caeca three or four; bones rather firm. Coloration 
various, often brilliant. As here understood, a very large genus 
covering a great variety of forms. Many attempts at further 
subdivision have been made. Intergradations of all sorts occur, 
and the technical characters do not always indicate the real 
relationship. Many of the species are excessively variable, each 
brook having its peculiar race. 

Subgenus oligocephalus Girard 

255 Etheostoma coeruleum Storer 

Blue Darter; Rainbow Darter 

Etheostoma coerulea Stoeek, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. II, 47, 1845, Fox 

River, 111. 
Poecilichthys coeruleus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 517, 

1883. 
Etheostoma coeruleum Meek, Bull. U. S. F. C. 119, 131, 155, 1891; Bean, 

Fishes Penna. 125, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 1088, 1896. 

Body short, comparatively stout; head large; mouth moder- 
ately large, the lower jaw included within the upper. The 
maxilla extends to the front of the eye. The length of the head 
is contained three and three fourth times in the to.tal length 
without the caudal, and the depth of the body four and one 
fourth times. Five rows of scales above the lateral line, eight 
rows below the lateral line, and 45 rows from head to base of 
-caudal, nape and breast generally scaleless. D. X, 12; A. II, 7. 

The body of the male is olivaceous with darker blotches on 
the back, 12 bars of indigo blue running obliquely downward 
and backward across the sides. The spaces between the bars 
are orange, as are also the throat, breast and cheeks. The base 
of the spinous dorsal is crimson, surmounted by orange and 
margined with blue. The soft dorsal is orange, its base and 
margin blue. In the female the blue and orange colors are 



518 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

chiefly wanting, and the dorsal, anal and caudal are checked or 
barred. 

The blue darter, blue Johnny, rainbow darter, or soldier fish r 
is found in the Ohio valley and in some parts of the Mississippi 
valley. It abounds in gravelly streams and ascends small 
brooks, but not in large numbers. The U. S. Fish Commissiont 
obtained many individuals in Marsh creek at Point Breeze N. Y. 
Aug. 2, and a few in Salt brook, 1^ miles above Nine Mile point,. 
June 11, 1893. 

The blue darter reaches a length of 3 inches. It is not so 
active as some of the other darters, but in coloration it is the 
most beautiful of all. One of the most interesting accounts of its 
habits is republished in Bulletin 47, U. S. National Museum, from 
the writings of Jordan and Copeland. It will follow to the sur- 
face of the water a piece of meat suspended by a thread and 
has been seen to catch a water insect by a swimming leg and 
release it several times, apparently for the mere pleasure of 

playing tricks. 

Subgenus etheo stoma 

256 Etheostoma flabellare Rafinesque 

Fcmtail Darter 

Etheostoma flaoellaris Rafinesque, Jour, de Physique, Paris, 419, 1819. 
Etheostoma linsleyi Stoker, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. 37, 1851, Wolcott^ 

Wiayne County, N. Y. 
Catonotus fasciatus Girard, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 68, 1859, Madrid* 

. N. Y. 
Catonotus flaoellatus Vaillant, Recherches sur Etheostom. 121, 1873, with. 

plate. 
Etheostoma flabellare Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus, 513, 

1883; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 314, 1888; Bean, Fishes Penna. 

1125, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1097, 1896; 

Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 37, 1898. 

Body slender, elongate; head long, lower jaw strongly pro- 
jecting. The species is readily recognized by its low fins, 
specially the spinous dorsal, and its prominent lower jaw. It 
runs, however, into several varieties, one of which, occurring in 
Indiana and northwestward, has black spots on the scales form- 
ing lateral stripes; another variety from the Cumberland river- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 519 

is distinguished by its thick jaw and nearly plain coloration. In 
the male the spinous dorsal is one half as high as the soft 
dorsal. The female has higher spines than the male; the spines 
have fleshy tips. No scales on nape, head and breast. A large 
black humeral scale. The length of the head equals one fourth 
■of the total length without caudal, and the depth one fifth. D. 
VIII, 12; A. II, 8. Scales 7-50-7. The lateral line ends at the 
middle of the length. 

The general color is olivaceous, the upper parts dusky; the 
sides with dark streaks formed by the spots at the base of the 
scales. The males have dusky crossbars; the soft dorsal and 
caudal barred. The spinous dorsal of the male has an orange 
margin. 

The fantail darter is found from western New York to North 
Carolina, and in the Ohio valley. In the Lake Ontario region 
the U. S. Fish Commission collectors obtained it from the follow- 
ing places in 1893: 

Salt brook, 1-J miles above Nine Mile point June 11 
■Grenadier island June 28 and 29 

Horse island, Sackett's Harbor June 30 

Mill creek July 2 

Little Stony brook, Henderson bay July 4 

Cemetery creek, Watertown July 5 

Ghaumont river July 10 

Big Sandy creek, Belleville July 12 

Wart creek July 24 

Spring brook, Pulaski July 24 

Three Mile creek, Oswego July 27 

Great Sodus bay Aug. 6 

Four Mile creek, Nine Mile point, Webster Aug. 9 

Sandy creek, North Hamlin Aug. 20 

Marsh creek, Point Breeze Aug. 21 

Writing of the fishes of Cayuga lake basin, Dr Meek makes 
the statement that the fantail darter is found with the 
tessellated darter at each end of Cayuga lake; that these two 



520 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

are the only species of darters in the lake, and neither of them 
occurs in the streams on the uplands. 

Though usually considered as being limited to western New 
York, Eugene Smith says it is not altogether rare in the 
Hackensack valley streams, perhaps the easternmost locality 
in which it occurs. 

It grows to a length of 2J inches and abounds in clear rocky 
streams. It is very active and tenacious of life and is an 
excellent species for the aquarium. 

Genus boleichthis Girard 
This genus contains small and slender species allied to those 
of the section Oligocephalus under Etheostoma. 
The lateral line is incomplete and has a slight upward curve 
anteriorly instead of being , straight, as in all the species of 
Etheostoma. Top of head not scaly. Lowland streams 
and swamps. The species few, variable and hard to determine. 

257 Boleichthys fusiformis (Girard) 

Boleosoma fusiformis Girard, Proc. Bast. Soc. Nat. Hist. 41, 1854. 

Hololepis fusiformis Vaillant, Recherche s sur Etheostom. 131, 1873, with* 

plate. 
Poecilichthys fusiformis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 520, 

1883. 
Etheostoma fusiforme Evermann & Kendall, Bull. U. S. F. C. XII, 115,. 

1894; Eugene Smith, Froc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 37, 1898. 
Boleichthys fusiformis Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

1101, 1896, pi. CLXXVII, fig. 469, 1900. 

Body moderately elongate, strongly compressed. The depth 
is contained six times in the length. Head rather long and 
narrow. The length is one fourth that of the body. The 
muzzle short, decurved, shorter than eye; mouth comparatively 
large, terminal; maxillary reaching past front of eye; eyes 
large, four in head; opercular spine strong; lateral line begin- 
ning at the eye, on about 12 to 15 scales; neck scaly; belly and 
throat scaly. D. X-9; A. II, 7; lateral line 55. 

Olivaceous, dotted with dusky points; second dorsal and anal 
speckled. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 521 

This little darter is recorded from Massachusetts to New 
Jersey and will doubtless be found in New York. It grows to 
the length of 2 inches. 

258 Boleichthys fusiformis eos Jordan & Copeland 

Boleichthys eos Jordan & Copeland, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 46, 1877, 
Rock River, Wisconsin; Wisconsin River, Wisconsin; Fox River, 
Illinois. 

Poecilichthys eos Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 520, 1883. 

Boleichthys fusiformis eos Jordan and Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
1102, 1896. 

Body elongate, slender, somewhat compressed, specially 
behind, rather heavy forward, with very long and slender caudal 
peduncle; head long, rounded in front; mouth small, little 
oblique, the upper jaw a very little the longer; dorsal fins high, 
about equal; caudal truncate; cheeks, opercles, and neck closely 
scaled; breast naked, or with a median series of small scales; 
lateral line developed on 22 to 26 scales. Head one fourth of 
total length without caudal; depth A. D. IX-11; A. II, 7; 
lateral line 58. 

Color dark olive, with darker markings; 10 or 12 dark dorsal 
spots or bars, and as many short dark blue bars across the 
lateral line nearly opposite the dorsal bars, but not continuous 
with them; the interspaces between these bars, as well as most 
of the ventral region, bright crimson in the males, nearly plain 
in the females ; lower parts of the sides, cheeks, etc. with various 
sharply defined but irregular black markings; second dorsal, 
caudal, and pectorals strongly marked with wavy bands; first 
dorsal bright blue in the males, with a broad median band of 
crimson, speckled in the females; top of head dark; black streaks 
downward and forward from eye. 

The describers of the species recorded its distribution from 
Indiana to Minnesota; abundant in clear cold streams. It grows 
to the length of 2\ inches, and is one of the prettiest of the 
darters. Specimens were obtained for the U. S. Eish Commission 
in Mud creek, Cape Vincent N. Y. June 25, the species being 
abundant there, at Grenadier island, June 27, and in Guffon 
creek, Chaumont N. Y. July 7. 



522 NEW YORK STATE MUSEiUM 

Family serranidae 

Sea Basses 
Genus roccus Mitchill 
Base of tongue with one or two patches of teeth; anal spines 
graduated; dorsal fins entirely separate; anal rays III, 11 or 12; 
supraoccipital crest scarcely widened above; lower jaw project- 
ing. Vertebrae 12+13=25. Otherwise as in M o r o n e , the 
body more elongate, the scales smoother, and the fins more 
slender than in M o r o n e . Species all American, valued as 
food fishes. In both Roccus and M o r o n e , the antrorse 
preopercular spines (characteristic of the European genus or 
subgenus Dicentrarchus) are wanting. 

259 Roccus chrysops (Rafinesque) 

White Bass 

Perca chrysops Rafinesque, Ichthyol. Ohien. 22, 1820. 

Labrax albifrus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 13, pi. 51, fig. 165, 1842, 

Buffalo. 
Labrax notatus Richaedson, Fauna Bor.^Amer. Ill, 8, 1836; Gunthee, Cat. 
I Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 67, 1859. 
Roccus chrysops Gill, Rept. Capt. Simpson's Surv. Great Basin Utah, 391, 

pi. 1, fig. 1-7, 1876; Joed an & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 529, 

1883; Bean, Fishes Penna. 132, pi. 34, fig. 71, 1893; Bull. Am. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. IX, 365, 1897; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 1132, 1896, pi. CLXXX, fig. 477, 1900; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. 

Soc. N. Y. 1897, 38, 1898. 

The white bass has the body oblong, elevated and compressed; 
its depth contained two and one half times in the total length 
without caudal, the length of the head about three and one 
third times in this length; head subcorneal, depressed over eye; 
mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching to below middle of eye; 
length of eye almost equal to length of snout; villiform teeth in 
bands on jaws, palatines, vomer and tongue; the dorsal outline 
is much curved, the fins well separated. 

D. IX, 1, 14; A. Ill, 11 to 12. Scales 8-60-13. General color 
silvery, tinged with golden on sides; eight or more blackish 
longitudinal streaks on sides, those below more or less inter- 
rupted. 



\ 

FISHES OF NEW YORK 523 

The following measurements were taken from a specimen 
obtained by Mr James Annin jr, in Oneida lake, Sep. 4, 1896. 

Jnches 

Extreme length 12J 

Length to end of middle caudal rays 11J 

Length to end of scales 10 

Depth of body 4 

Least depth of caudal peduncle If 

Length of head 3 

Length of snout f 

Diameter of eye -& 

Length of fourth dorsal spine If 

Length of second dorsal ray If 

Length of second anal ray. . . . If 

Weight, 16^ ounces. 

The white bass is sometimes called striped bass, and is prob- 
ably the silver bass of Canada. Its center of abundance is the 
Great lakes region, but it is also widely distributed over the 
Ohio and Mississippi valleys. In Pennsylvania the species is 
found in Lake Erie and in the tributaries of the Ohio river. The 
U. S. Fish Commission secured three specimens at Horse island, 
Sacketts Harbor N. Y., June 30. The New Jersey Fish Commis- 
sion has introduced the fish into Greenwood lake. 

The white bass weighs from 1 to 3 pounds, and its flesh is 
considered almost if not equally as good as that of the black 
bass. It prefers the deeper parts of rivers and thrives best in 
lakes and ponds. In April and May they leave the deeper 
waters and go in near shore or to the mouths of rivers where 
they spawn. The spawning period is in May and June. 

The white bass feeds upon minnows, crawfish and other fresh- 
water crustaceans, also minute mollusks or shellfish^ and it is 
said to devour many young whitefish upon the spawning grounds 
of that species. 

It is a game fish and affords good sport to the angler. 



524 NEW rORK STATE MUSEUM 

260 Roccus lineatus (Bloch) 
Striped Bass; Rockfish 

Sciaena lineata Bloch, Ichthyol. IX, 53, pi. 305, 1792. 

Pcrca septentrionalis Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 90, pi. 70, 1801, 

New York. 
Roccus striatus Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 25, 1814. 
Pcrca mitchilli Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 413, pi. III r 

fig. 4, 1815. 
Pcrca mitohilli alternata Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 415,. 

1815. 
Pcrca mitchilli inter rupta Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 415, 

1815. 
Labrax lineatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 7, pi. 1, fig. 3, 1842; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 64, 1859; Stores, Hist. Fish. Mass. 

6, pi. I, fig. 4, 1867. 
Roccus lineatus Gill, Ichth. Rep. Capt. Simpson's Expl. Great Basin Utah, 

391, 1876; Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 425, pi. 170, 1884^ Bean, 

19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 267, pi. XVIII, fig. 22, 1890; Fishes- 

Penna. 131, color pi. 14, 1893; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 365, 1897; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1132, 1896, pi. CLXXX, 

fig. 478, 1900; Eugene Smith, Proc Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 38, 1898; 

Mearns, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 321, 1898; H. M. Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. for 1897, 99, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 

105, 1900. 

The genus Roccus, to which the striped bass belongs, has- 
two patches of small teeth on the base of the tongue, the anal 
spines increasing regularly in size backward, the lower jaw 
much longer than the upper, the scales on the cheeks nearly 
smooth along their margin and the dorsal fins separated by a 
narrow interspace. The body is moderately elongate and rather 
stout; the caudal peduncle is slender. The greatest depth of 
the body is two sevenths of the total length without caudal and 
equals length of head. Eye small, one half as long as the snout 
and one sixth to one eighth the length of the head. The eyes 
are placed near the top of the head; the maxilla reaches to 
below the middle of the eye. The anal spines are slender, the 
third longest, about one fifth length of head. The fourth and 
fifth dorsal spines are longest, about two fifths length of head. 
Pectoral a little longer than ventral, one half length of head. 

D. IX, I, 11 to 12; A. Ill, 10 to 11. Scales 7-65-19. 

Sides greenish above, silvery below, sometimes with a brassy 
lustre and marked by seven or eight longitudinal streaks none of 



FISHES OF NEW YORK OZO< 

which are half as wide as the eye, one of them passing along the 
lateral line; the lowermost stripe is somewhat below the middle 
of the depth. 

In the southern United States from New Jersey to Florida 
the striped bass is known as the rock or rockfish. In the north- 
ern states the name striped bass is more generally used than 
the other, specially along the coast. In the Delaware, Susque- 
hanna and Potomac rivers it is called rockfish. Greenhead and! 
squid hound are names applied to large individuals found in the 
sea in New England watetffe. One of the old names of the fish 
is streaked bass. 

Rockfish and striped bass, according to Schoepff (1787), are 
among the early New York names for this highly prized species. 
Dr Mitchill (1814) calls it Mitchill's perch, striped basse and rock- 
fish. De Kay describes it as the striped sea bass. Streaked bass 
is another name in use in 1815, and a very interesting account of 
the fish under this name is published by Dr James Mease in the 
first volume of the Transactions of the Literary and Philosophical 
Society of New York. Dr Mease in this article states that rock- 
fish weighing from 25 pounds to 60 pounds are called green- 
heads. At the time of his writing the fishing-ground for the 
Philadelphia and New York markets was between Long Branch 
and Cranberry inlet, an extent of about thirty miles, and the 
great places of winter resort were Motetecunk, 30 miles from 
Long Branch, and the rivers of Elk and Egg Harbor. 

At the time of Dr Mitchill's report the greatest run occurred 
late in the fall, and great hauls were made during the cold- 
est season, including some very large fish. He saw, however, 
a dozen at a time weighing 50 pounds each in New York 
market during very mild weather in early October. 

The range of the striped bass or rockfish includes the entire 
Atlantic coast from the Gulf of St Lawrence to the Gulf of 
Mexico, the fish entering rivers and ascending them long dis- 
tances. In the Alabama river this fish is known to be taken 
every year and some large individuals have been obtained from 
that stream. It has been captured also in the lower Mississippi* 



526 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

It is very abundant in the great bays and sounds from North 
Carolina to Cape Cod. In Albemarle sound many large individ- 
uals are said to occur. In the St John's river, Florida, accord- 
ing to Dr Goode, the fish is rather rare. In the vicinity of Pen- 
sacola the late Silas Stearns occasionally obtained a specimen 
of the fish. 

The striped bass has been introduced into California and has 
now become fairly acclimated there. In the Delaware and 
Susquehanna rivers this is one of the common fishes and it is 
one of the most highly esteemed. 

This is a permanent resident of Gravesend bay, but the hight 
of the fishery occurs from October 10 to November 10. Large 
fish, up to 45 pounds, are caught in May, but the fall fish range 
from 9 inches to 24 inches in length. In Great South bay the 
writer has obtained specimens at Blue Point cove, Great river, 
Nichols's point, and off Widow's creek. A great haul was made 
on Lone Hill Middleground about the middle of October, 1901. 
The fish remains in some of the tributaries of Great South bay 
throughout the year. According to Dr Mearns the species is 
taken in great numbers in nets set through the ice of the Hud- 
son in winter, and in drift nets by shad fishermen in spring. 
Large individuals of 60 pounds and upward are sometimes 
caught in the winter and early spring. He once took a specimen 
a little above the estuary of Poplopen's creek, in fresh water. 

At Woods Hole Mass. the fish is not common, and apparently 
does not spawn; it arrives about May 1 and leaves about Novem- 
ber 1; in size it ranges from \ pound to 65 pounds. 

This fish lives in the sea or in brackish or fresh water indiffer- 
ently and it has been successfully kept in artificial ponds. In 
cold northern waters its becomes icebound occasionally and is 
said to hibernate. It prefers cold water, is carnivorous and pre- 
daceous, feeding upon small fishes in the streams, consuming 
specially large quantities of the alewife or river herring and 
the young of the shad. In the shallow bays along the coasts 
its food consists of killifish, silversides, anchovies, lant and 
other small fishes, besides crabs, squid, clams, mussels and other 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 527 

marine invertebrates. Its movements while feeding depend 
greatly on the tides. It is to be found frequently at the mouths 
of small creeks and in tideways, where it lies in wait for the 
large schools of small fishes, which constitute its food. 

The largest striped bass recorded was said to weigh 112 
pounds. At Avoca, North Carolina, Dr Capehart took a striped 
bass weighing 95 pounds. It reaches a length of four and one 
half or five feet. 

Spawning takes place from April to June, either in the rivers 
or in the brackish waters of bays and sounds. Eggs have been 
hatched artificially in May on Albemarle sound. Dr Capehart 
took a 58 pound spawning fish April 22, 1891. The eggs are 
smaller than those of the shad and after fertilization they 
increase greatly in size and become light green in color. This 
58 pound fish probably contained more than one half million 
eggs. Dr Abbott has found the young an inch long in the Dela- 
ware the~ second week in June and by the middle of October 
some of these had grown to a length of 4J inches. The striped 
bass has been kept in a small pool of fresh water and fed upon 
crabs and oysters increasing in about eleven months from 6 
inches in length to 20 inches. In the aquarium the species is 
hardy and grows rapidly; it can be kept in good condition 
almost indefinitely. In a Ehode Island pond it is stated that 
bass weighing \ pound to 1 pound in June had reached a weight 
of six pounds in the following October. 

In fresh water, salted eel tail is a favorite bait for taking 
striped bass, and the spoon or spinner is also a .good lure, but 
live minnows are preferred to all other baits. For surf fishing 
shedder crab well fastened to the hook is a very killing bait. 

Genus morone Mitchill 
Body rather short and deep, compressed; maxillary broad,, 
naked, without supplemental bone; teeth subequal; lower jaw 
scarcely projecting; no canines; no movable teeth; base of 
tongue without teeth; edge of tongue with linear patches of 
teeth. Lower margin of preopercle finely serrate or entire, the 
serrae not greatly increased in size toward the angle, and none 



528 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

of thein developed as antrorse hooks. Spines strong, 10 in the 

dorsal fin; dorsal fins more or less connected by membrane; 

second anal spine much enlarged, not shorter than third; anal 

rays III, eight or nine. Vertebrae 12+13=25. Scales rather 

large, ctenoid; top of head scaly; lateral line little arched. 

Yentrals inserted well behind pectorals. Two known species, 

both American. 

261 Morone americana (Gmelin) 

White Perch 

rerca americana Gmelin, L. Syst. Nat. I, III, 1308, 1788, New York. 
Morone Rufa Mitchiel, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 18, 1814, New York. 
Morone Pallida Mitchell, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 18, 1814, New York. 
Bodianus rufus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 420, 1S15. 
J<abrax rufus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 9, pi. 3, fig. 7, 1842; Gunther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 65, 1859. 
Labrax pallidus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 11, pi. 1, fig. 2, 1842; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 67, 1859. 
Labrax nigricans De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 12, pi. 50, fig. 160, 1842. 
Roccus americanus Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 268, pi. XIX, fig. 

23, 1890. 
.Morone americana Gill, Ichth. Rept. Oapt. Simpson's Surv. Great Basin 

Utah, 397, 1876; Bean, Fishes Penna. 133, pi. 15, 1893; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1134, 1896, pi. CLXXXI, fig. 

479, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 366, 1897; Mearns, 

Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 321, 1898; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn. 

Soc. N. Y. 1897, 39, 1898; H. M. Smith, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. 1897, 99, 1898; 

Bean, 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 105, 1900. 

The genus Morone of Gill differs from Roccus in hav- 
ing the dorsals joined, the spines strong, the anal with 10 soft 
rays, its spines not graduated, the jaws subequal and base of 
the tongue toothless. It includes the common white perch and 
the yellow bass. 

The white perch has an oblong body, with the back convex, 
mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching a little beyond the 
front of the eye; the eye is nearly as long as the snout, and is 
contained five and one half times in the length of the head; the 
head is about one third of total without caudal; the depth of 
body is contained two and two thirds times in total without cau- 
dal; the fourth anal spine is the longest, two fifths length of 
lead; the second is stouter and slightly shorter than the third, 
its length one third that of head. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 529 

D. IX, I, 12; A. Ill, 10. Scales 7-51-11. The dorsal fins are 
separated by a very deep notch, but connected by membrane; 
upper parts grayish or greenish; sides silvery; young individ- 
uals have pale, longitudinal streaks. 

This is the perch or river perch of Schoepff, which he records 
as an inhabitant of the coasts of New York and Long Island, 
in and at the mouths of fresh-water streams. Dr Mitchill (1815) 
gives it the name of red perch, and states that when not in the 
breeding season it is called black perch because its colors are 
browner and darker. De Kay describes it, in the Fishes of New 
Yoi% as the ruddy bass. In Great Egg Harbor bay individuals 
taken from salt water are sometimes called yellow perch or 
peerch. 

The species is found from Nova Scotia to South Carolina, and 
inhabits both salt and fresh water. Mitchill saw specimens 14 
inches long and nearly 5 inches deep, from Quag, Long 
Island. There is an important winter fishery for the white 
perch at Bellport. It is taken in seines and gillnets. The 
writer has occasionally found this species in various parts of 
Great South bay, for example, at Smith's point, Whale House 
Hole, Swan river; also in the east end of Shinnecock bay, in the 
fresh water of Head of Creek, near Southampton. The fishermen 
affirm that when its feeding grounds are disturbed by seining 
the fish suddenly leave the locality. The white perch is never 
plentiful in Gravesend bay; it is abundant in fresh-water lakes 
of Central park, New York, and Prospect park, Brooklyn. Near 
Montauk, Long Island, the species is abundant and reaches a 
large size. Eugene Smith has found it common in brackish 
waters near New York, where it occurs all the year; he had it 
also from fresh water. Mearns states that it remains in the 
Hudson throughout the year and is taken in abundance in win- 
ter in nets set through the ice. In Oscawana lake, Putnam 
county, individuals weighing 2 or 3 pounds were reported to him. 

In the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. the fish is abundant in 
fresh-water ponds connected with salt water. 

It is said that the white perch formerly extended south to 
^Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, but this is discredited by com- 



530 • NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

petent observers. The perch of Lake Ponchartr'ain is very 
likely the species now known in many portions of the western 
states as the fresh-water drum, Aplodinotus grun- 
niens. 

The average length of the white perch is about 9 inches and 
its weight £ pound or less, but numerous specimens measuring 
14 inches and weighing 2 pounds or more have been taken, 
specially in New England waters. 

' At the time of Dr Mitchill's writing the species was a favorite 
in New York markets, and it is now one of the best known 
species though probably not ranking among the choicest kinds. 

Thaddeus Norris was one of the most earnest supporters of 
the white perch, and has published interesting observations con- 
cerning its habits. Comparatively little, however, is known 
about its life. It is an associate of the striped bass, and, 
according to Dr Abbott, resembles this species in its feeding 
habits. It differs from the striped bass in its tendency to seek 
warm waters. 

The white perch is a lover of brackish water, and may be 
found in tidal creeks in vast numbers associated with mummi- 
chogs, silversides and eels, feeding upon shrimp and minnows. 
Spawning takes place in May and June. According to Profes- 
sor John A. Ryder, the egg of the white perch is very adhesive, 
and on this account is troublesome to hatch artificially. In 
the experiments made by him the eggs were taken upon cotton 
yarn, which was drawn up through a funnel into which the eggs 
and milt had been squeezed from the spawning fish. The cord, 
covered with the adhering eggs, was then wrapped upon a 
wooden reel and sent under cover of damp cloths to the central 
station, where they arrived in fine condition, almost every egg 
being impregnated. This system was devised and carried out 
under the superintendence of Col. M. McDonald. After reach- 
ing the central station the cotton cord with the adhering eggs 
was cut into lengths of 10 or 12 inches and suspended in the 
glass hatching jars. The development was soon interfered with 
by the growth of fungus. When the wooden reel with the ad- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 531 

hering eggs was introduced into a wide aquarium fungus also 
attacked the eggs as before but the results were somewhat 
more favorable. With the water at 58° to 60° F, the eggs 
hatched out in 6 days. 

The white perch congregates in large schools and is one of 
the freest biters among fishes. The shrimp is one of the best 
baits, though worms, sturgeon eggs, minnows and strips of cut 
fish with silvery skin are equally effective. Dr Abbott has 
known as many as 20 dozen to be taken with a line in a few 
hours, and Spangler mentions catches of six or seven hundred 
in a day by two rods, the fish ranging in weight from | to 1J 
pounds. 

Eugene Smith, on several occasions, found a long, green, 
brackish- water alga (Enter omorpha) in stomachs of 
white perch, indicating that they sometimes eat vegetable mat- 
ter, though perhaps only for the minute organisms found 
upon it. 

In captivity the fish is very susceptible to fungus attacks, but 
the parasite is readily killed by changing the water supply 
from salt to fresh, or vice versa. 

Genus polyprion Cuvier 
Body robust, moderately elevated, not much compressed, cov- 
ered with small, firm, ctenoid scales which extend on the bases 
of the vertical fins. Lateral line complete, partly concealed 
under adjacent scales, the tubes covering the whole length of 
the scale. Mouth large, the lower jaw projecting; maxillary 
with supplemental bone. Teeth in broad, villiform bands on 
jaws, vomer, palatines, and tongue; no canine teeth. Head 
scaly. Preopercle serrate; orbital region with spinous projec- 
tions; opercle with a strong spine and with a strong, rough, 
bony longitudinal ridge; gill membranes separate; gill rakers 
long, few. Dorsal fin continuous, low, with 11 strong spines 
and 11 or 12 rays, the spinous portion longest; caudal rounded; 
anal short, with three spines, the third the longest; ventrals 
large, inserted below, little behind pectoral; caudal rounded or 
truncate; pectorals short, unsymmetrical, of 18 or 19 rays, the 



532 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

upper longest. Spines of anal and ventrals somewhat serrate 
on the anterior edge. Vertebrae 13+14=27. Pyloric caeca 
about seventy. Branchiostegals seven. Posterior processes of 
premaxillaries not reaching frontals; parietal and supraocular 
crests not extending between postfrontal processes; supraoc- 
cipital crest strong, but not produced forward on cranium. 
Species inhabiting deep waters in the warm seas, reaching a 
very great size. The one is confined to the coasts of Southern 
Europe and neighboring waters; the other (Polyprion 
oxjgeneios) is recorded from Juan Fernandez and about 
New Zealand. 

262 Polyprion americanus (Bloch & Schneider) 
Wreckfisli; Stone Bass; Cernier 

lAmpliiprion americanus Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 205, pi. XLVII, 

1801. 
Polyprion cernhim Otjvier, in Valenciennes, Mem. du Mus. d'Hist. Nat. 

XI, 265, pi. XVII, 1824; Ouvier & Valenciennes, Hist Nat. Poiss. 

Ill, 21, pi. 42, 1829; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 169, 1859. 
Polyprion oxygenius Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. ' Mus. 532, 

1883. 
Polyprion americanus Jordan, Oat. Fish. N. A. 83, 1885; Jordan & Ever- 

mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1139, 1896, pi. OLXXXI, fig. 480, 480a, 

skull, 1900. 

Body robust, moderately elevated, the depth being contained 
from two and two thirds to three and one half times in the 
length ; mouth large, the maxillary reaching to posterior border 
of eyes; teeth in villiform bands on jaws, vomer,. palatines, and 
tongue; supraocular region, supraclavicle, post-temporal, pre- 
opercle, and a ridge on opercle spinigerous; dorsal fin low with 
11 strong spines; caudal rounded; anal spines short, serrate 
anteriorly, the third much the longest; ventrals large; pectorals 
short. The length of the head is contained three times in the 
length of the body. D. XI, 12; A. Ill, 8. Color grayish brown, 
the caudal edged with white ; young clouded with light and dark. 
This large fish is not uncommon off the coast of Europe in the 
deep waters of 300 fathoms Or more, the young only swimming 
near the surface, specially southward. It is said to live most 
abundantly about wrecks; hence the common name of wreck- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 533 

fish. It reaches a length of 5 or 6 feet. A single young 

specimen has been taken in deep waters of the Gulf stream by 

the U. S. Fish Commission, but there is no other record from 

America. 

Genus epiivephehjs Bloch 

Body stout, compressed, covered with small, ctenoid scales, 
which are often somewhat embedded in the skin; scales of the 
lateral line triangular, cycloid; soft parts of the vertical fins 
generally more or less scaly. Cranium narrow above. Parietal 
crests not produced on frontals which are without transverse 
ridge posteriorly; frontals with a process or knob on each side 
behind inter orbital area; premaxillary processes fitting into a 
notch or cavity on the anterior end of the frontals. Preopercle 
moderately serrate behind, its lower limb entire, without dis- 
tinct antrorse spine; opercle with two strong spines. Nostrils 
well separated. Mouth large; maxillary large, with a well- 
developed supplemental bone, its surface usually with small 
scales. Canine teeth few, large in the front of the jaws; 
enlarged teeth of the inner series of each jaw depressible. Gill 
rakers short and rather few. Dorsal spines usually 11, rarely 
10, not filamentous, the last ones somewhat shorter than the 
middle ones. Anal spines three, the second usually the larger; 
the number of soft rays seven to nine. Caudal fin rounded or 
lunate. Pyloric caeca few (usually 10-20). Pectorals rounded, 
shortish, nearly symmetric, of 15 to 20 rays. Ventrals moder- 
ate, inserted below pectorals, close together, each with a strong 
spine. Species very numerous, most of them of large size, 
abounding in all the tropical seas, where they are valuable food 
fishes. This is the largest and most important genus of the 
S e r r a n i d a e, and its species are most widely distributed. 

263 Epinephelus niveatus (Cuv. & Val.) 
Spotted Grouper ; Snowy Grouper 

Serranns nireatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II, 380, 1S28; 

Guxther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 130, 1859. 
Serraniis margaritifer Guxther. op. cit. 131, 1859. 
Jlyportliodus flavicaudu Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 98, 1801, young, 

Newport R. I. 



531 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Epinephelus n 'meatus Poey, Syn. Pise. Cubens. 286, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert,. 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus, 541, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S*. 
Nat. Mus. 1156, 1896; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 99, 1896; 
op. cit. 1901, 32, 1901. 

Body oblong, compressed, the back elevated; the anterior 
profile somewhat convex; the snout short, rather sharp, its 
length contained three and three fourths times in length of 
head. Head three sevenths and depth of body about one third 
of total length without caudal. Mouth large, the maxillary 
extending to below posterior margin of eye, its length one half 
length of head. Canines rather strong, specially in upper jaw. 
Lower jaw considerably projecting. Eye rather large. Inter- 
orbital space flatfish, its width contained seven and one half 
times in length of head and twice in length of snout. Pre- 
opercle with a salient angle armed with stronger teeth, a slight 
notch above the angle. Gill rakers 15 below the angle of first 
arch, the longest as long as the gill fringes. Dorsal spines 
rather high, the fourth contained about two and three fifths 
times in length of head; soft dorsal of moderate hight; caudal 
truncate, one half as long as the head; anal moderate, its second 
spine about as long as the third, three eighths as long as the 
head, its longest soft ray three sevenths as long as the head. 
Pectorals not reaching to the tips of the long ventrals, about 
one half as long as the head. Ventrals about as long as pec- 
torals, nearly reaching vent. D. XI (rarely X), 14 or 15; A. Ill, 9^ 
scales 18-115 to 120-50; pores of lateral line 67 to 75. 

Color of young in alcohol: brown, with round whitish spots 
on the body, rather smaller than pupil, regularly arranged in 
vertical and horizontal series, about five in horizontal and four 
in vertical row; these rows sometimes show irregularities; no 
distinct spots on breast; a very large black blotch on upper part 
of caudal peduncle extending to below lateral line; a dark mus- 
tache above edge of maxillary; fins nearly plain, probably yel- 
lowish in life, the dorsal with a median row of dusky spots on 
the membranes. Some specimens lack the saddlelike blotch on 
the tail, but the pearly spots on the side are persistent in all. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 535 

The spotted grouper occurs in the West Indies and south to 
Brazil frequently straying northward in the Gulf Stream as far 
as Cape Cod. A young specimen was taken many years ago at 
Newport R. I. and others have been secured in Rhode Island 
waters. At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr H. M. Smith, it 
is not rare. First reported in 1895, when as many as 10 or 12 
specimens were obtained in the Woods Hole region. In 1897 
several others were taken in summer and fall ; one was caught 
August 7 in a dredge in Vineyard Sound in 6 fathoms of water 
and in November several were taken in a fyke net in Great 
Harbor. All have been of small size (3 inches or less), and most 
of them have been brought up in lobster pots. Dr Smith also 
recorded 35 specimens, taken in Katama bay on nine occasions 
between August 15 and October 26, 1900. 

The example described by Dr Gunther, from South America, 
under the name Serranus marga ritifer was li| inches 
long. The colors of his specimen were as follows: 

The ground color is reddish olive, lighter on the belly; on 
each side of the body are four series of pearl-colored spots, each 
occupying the place of five or six scales. The uppermost series 
reaches from the occiput along the base of the dorsal fin to the 
black blotch of the tail, and is composed of eight spots; the 
-second, following the lateral line, of six; the third, from the 
angle of operculum, of four; and the fourth, from the base of 
the pectorals, of five. There is a blackish streak behind the 
maxillary bone. The black blotch on the tail occupies nearly 
the whole space between the dorsal and caudal fins and between 
the two lateral lines. The fins are nearly unicolored; a single 
pearl-colored spot is to be seen on the seventh spine and on the 
ventral fins; the anal has a whitish edge; ventrals blackish, with 
w^hitish lateral margin; pectorals uniform yellowish. 

Genus centropristes Cuvier 
Body robust, somewhat compressed, covered with rather large 
ctenoid scales. Mouth large, formed as in Serranus and 
Paralabrax, the canines small. Tongue smooth. Pre- 
opercle serrate, the lower teeth somewhat antrorse. Gill rakers 
rather long and slender. Supraoccipital and parietals with strong 
crests extending forward to between postfrontal processes; 
f rontals posteriorly with an angular transverse ridge in front of 



536 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

supraoccipital connecting the parietal crests; posterior processes 
of premaxillaries not reaching frontals. The characteristic 
smooth area on top of cranium very short and small. Dorsal 
short, its rays X, 11; anal rays III, 7; caudal usually 
three lobed or double concave; the canines very weak and the 
top of the head naked. The ventrals as in Prio' nodes, close 
together and inserted in advance of axil of pectoral; pectoral 
with 19 rays, its upper half truncate behind. The three species 
of Centropristes are closety related. 

264 Centropristes striatus (Linnaeus) 

Sea Bass; Bdackfish 

Labrus striatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 285, 1758, America. 
Perca atraria Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 485, 1766, Carolina. 
Perca varia Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 11, 1814; Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc> 

N. Y. I, 415, pi. 3, fig. 6, 1815, New York. 
Centropristes nigricans Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 37, 

pi. 44, 1829, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 24, pi. 2, fig. 6, 

1842; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 266, pi. XVII, fig. 21, 1890. 
Centropristes atrarius Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 86, 1859; Goode <fe 

Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 19, 1879. 
Serranus atrarius Jordan & Gilrert, Bull. 16, tJ. S. Nat. Mus. 533, 1883. 
Serranus nigrescens Jordan & Gilrert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 917, 1883. 
Centropristes striatus Jordan & Etgenmann, Bull. U. S. F. C. VIII, 391, 

pi. 64, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1199, 1896,. 

pi. CXC, fig. 500, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 366, 1897; 

H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 100, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. 

N. Y. State Mus. 105, 1900; Sherwood & Edwards, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. 

1901, 28, 1901. 

Body ovate, robust, the back somewhat elevated; axis of 
body below the middle of the depth. The length of the body is 
three times its depth and two and three fourths times the length 
of the head. Head large, thick, little compressed, somewhat 
pointed; top of head naked; cheeks and opercles scaly; scales on 
cheeks in about 11 rows. Mouth oblique, low, rather large, the 
premaxillary below the level of the eye; lower jaw prominent; 
maxillary broad, its upper edge anteriorly slipping under the 
edge of the preorbital, which is nearly as wide as the 
eye. Eye large, wider than interorbital space, less than 
snout, 4^ in head. Gill rakers long, about 18 below the angle. 
Canines very small, scarcely differentiated. Teeth all fixed, the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 537 

bands rather broader than usual. Dorsal spines rather strong, 
not filamentous* the middle ones rather higher than the pos- 
terior, which are considerably lower than the soft rays, the 
highest spine as long as from snout to middle of eye. Anal short 
and high, its spines graduated. Pectoral very long, 1J in head, 
reaching vent. Ventrals long, nearly reaching vent, inserted 
below front of the base of pectorals. Caudal slightly double con- 
cave; fins little scaly except at base; a rudimentary groove at 
base of spinous dorsal, over which scales do not pass. Length 12 
inches. D. X, 11; A. Ill, 7; Lat. 1. 50 to 55 pores; caeca 1-7. 

Dusky brown or black, adults often bluish; more or less 
mottled, with traces of pale longitudinal streaks along the rows 
of scales; young greenish, often with a dark lateral band, some- 
times broken up forming crossbars; dorsal fin with several series 
of elongate, whitish spots, forming interrupted lines; other fins 
dusky, mottled. 

The sea bass is the Perca v a r i a of Mitchill, Fish. X. Y. p. 
415. Common names given by this author are sea basse, black- 
harry, hanna hills and bluefish. Schoepff (1787) gives the New 
York name as blackfish; De Kay has it as the black sea bass, 
also black bass and blackfish. Dr Storer records the Massachu- 
setts name of black perch. Other common names on the coast 
are black will (Middle States) and rock bass (New Bedford). 

The sea bass is found from Vineyard sound southward, its 
southern limit not being accurately determined, but probably not 
extending below Cape Hatteras. The southern form, which was 
described by Linnaeus from South Carolina, may be distinct from 
the northern, and if so it should be designated by the Lin- 
naean name a t r a r i a . 

The northern form has been found occasionally north of Cape 
Cod, at Nahant, Salem, and Beverly bar. Dr Smith reported it 
as very common at Woods Hole in 1898, where it arrives in May 
and departs from the inshore waters about October 1, being most 
abundant from July to September. It spawns there in June. The 
young are first seen about August 1. The maximum weight is 
6 pounds. In 1900 the sea bass was said to be remarkably scarce 



538 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

at Woods Hole. According to the observers of the Fish Commis- 
sion This fish is decreasing' rapidly in numbers. Handlining, even 
on the spawning grounds off Hyannis was remarkably poor and 
young fish were less numerous than usual. As a rule the first 
adults appear iu their seasonal migration during the first or 
second week in May, when the water has reached a temperature 
of 48° to 50° F. However, in spite of the cold of 1900, they 
appeared at Cuttyhunk and Menemsha Bight on April 28 — with 
one exception the earliest arrival recorded in 25 years. Formerly 
the young were abundant everywhere, but at present they are 
restricted to a few localities — Katama bay, Quisset harbor, and 
Wareham river. The first fry were seined July 31 and measured 
f of an inch in length. On October 20 young fish 2 to 3 inches 
long were very plentiful in Katama bay. 

In 1884 the writer obtained young examples, only, and these 
in moderate numbers, at Fire Island near the end of September. 
In 1890 a few individuals were observed in a net at Islip. In 
1898, adults were taken in abundance offshore at Southampton 
in August and halfgrown specimens were secured from a pound 
at Islip. Young sea bass were rather common at Point of Woods, 
Great South bay, Clam Pond Cove, Fire Island inlet, Oak Island 
beach, and Nichols's Point. In the summer of 1901, early July to 
the middle of October, only a few young individuals were taken, 
and these were secured in eel pots off Widows' Creek, Great 
South bay. 

The sea bass makes its appearance in Gravesend bay in 
May. It is not abundant. The young in October are found in 
the eel grass, measuring from 1^ to 2 inches in length. Tlie 
species is well adapted to life in aquarium tanks during all but 
the coldest months. 

The sea bass is distinguished for its voracity and its persistent 
biting. The young are found in the channels of shallow bays and 
about wharves and landings. Large fish frequent the offshore 
banks where the bottom is rocky. A famous locality is Five 
Fathom bank, off the coast of New Jersey. In the shallow 
waters of Great Egg Harbor bay hundreds of small-sized sea 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 539 

bass may be taken in a day, and it is difficult to find a locality 
which is free from them. Their food consists of shrimp, crabs, 
sea worms, squid, small fishes and all other animals of suitable 
size. The species is sluggish in its habits and resembles the tau- 
tog in its tendency to hide in rock crevices. The sea bass breeds 
in the summer months and the young grow rapidly. The eggs 
have been hatched artificially, and when it becomes desirable the 
fry can be produced in vast quantities. The eggs are ~h inch in 
diameter and hatch in 5 days in water at the temperature of 
59° or 60° F. At Woods Hole Mass. they are deposited in June. 
This is a valuable food fish, reaching a length of 18 inches 
and the weight of 6 pounds. 

Genus dules Cuvier 
This genus is close to Prionodes, from which it differs 
in the possession of but six branchiostegals, and in the truncate 
i form of the caudal fin. In one species the third dorsal spine 
is prolonged in a whiplike »spine. Three American species./ 

265 Dules auriga (Cuv. & Val.) 
Coachman- 

Dules auriga Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 112, pi. 51, 
1829, Brazil; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 34, pi. 19, fig. 54, 1842. New 
York harbor, perhaps erroneously so ascribed, but given on the author- 
ity of Mr Hamilton; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 266, 1859; Jor- 
dan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U S. Nat. Mus. 542, 1883; Jordan & Ever- 
mann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 1220, 1896. 

Serranus brasillensis Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 533, 1886. 

Serranus flmiventris Jordan & Eigenmann, Bull. U. S. F. O.VIII, 406, 1890. 

Body rather deep and compressed, its depth contained two 
and four fifths times in total length without caudal, and equal 
to the length of the head; anterior profile steep and nearly 
straight; mouth rather small, the lower jaw projecting; pre- 
orbital rather narrow, as broad as pupil; eye two sevenths as 
long as the head; snout one fourth length of head; top of head 
naked; the frontal area large and well defined, broader than 
long; occipital crest low and short, shorter than the frontal 
area; teeth small, with no marked canines; length of maxillary 
five twelfths length of head; gill rakers short and slender, nine 



540 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

developed below the angle and from three to five rudiments;: 
scales large, those above in series parallel with the lateral line; 
scales on breast small. Third dorsal spine extremely long,, 
reaching beyond middle of soft dorsal; other spines all short 
and even; soft dorsal moderate, a little scaly at base; dorsal 
not notched; caudal truncate; second anal spine about one third 
as long as the head, equal to third, and a little stouter; pectoral' 
about one half as long as the head. 

D. X, 13; A. Ill, 7; scales 6-48-15, pores 45 to 50; B. 6. 

Coloration in spirits brownish ; a dark area from front of anal 
up to soft dorsal; before this a whitish area; upper parts with 
faint, interrupted dark streaks along the rows of scales; a dark 
band upward from middle of base of ventrals; fins clouded. 
Length 10 inches. (After Jordan & Evermann) 

De Kay described a specimen 4| inches long as of a yellowish- 
gray color, with three or more dusky vertical bands, and with- 
ventral fins tinged with blackish toward their tips. He re- 
garded it as an accidental visitor from the tropics. The sub- 
ject of his notes was an example seen several years prior to the 
publication of his work in the collection of Mr Hamilton, who 
informed him that it had been taken in the harbor of New York. 
There appears to be no later record of the occurrence of the 
species on our coast. De Kay refers to a specimen from 
Jamaica, but the range is generally restricted to the coasts of 
Brazil and Uruguay. 

Genus rypticus Cuvier 

Body oblong, compressed, covered with very small, smooth, 
embedded scales. Lateral line normal; head scaly. Mouth 
rather large, oblique, the lower jaw the longer; maxillary with 
a supplemental bone, as in Epinephelus, with which 
genus this form agrees in general osteology; smooth area on 
top of cranium very large, transversely convex, much longer 
than the supraoccipital crest; interorbital area very narrow; 
parietal and supraoccipital bones short, with feeble crests 
which do not extend on the frontals; premaxillaries reaching, 
frontals, which have a fossa in front; teeth all villiform, in* 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 541 

bands on jaws, vomer, and palatines; preopercle crescent- 
shaped, without angle or serratures, but provided with two or 
three- spinous hooks on the posterior margin; opercle with two 
or three spines; gill rakers short. Branchiostegals 7. Dorsal 
fins separate, the first of two or three (rarely four) small spines, 
the second of many (about 25) soft rays; anal long, rounded, of 
soft rays only; caudal rounded; pectorals rounded, nearly 
symmetrical, of 17 rays; ventrals small, I, 5, inserted slightly 
before pectorals, the spine short and strong. Vertebrae 
10+14=24. Skeleton generally similar to that of E p i n e p h - 

e 1 u s . 

Subgenus fuomicropterus Gill 

266 Rypticus bistrispinus (Mitchill) 
Soapfish 

Bodianus bistrispinus Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 247, February, 1818,. 

Bahamas. 
Rhypticus macirfatits Holbeook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 39, pi. 6, fig. 2, 1856; ed. 2, 

42, I860, Cape Romain S. C; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. t, 173, 

1859; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 543, 1883. 
Rhypticus decoratus Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 543, 1883. 
Rypticus bistrispinus Jordan & Eigenmann, Bull. U. S. F. C. VIII, 338, 1890;. 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1233, 1896, pi. CXCIV, 

fig. 509, 1900. 

This species has a moderately deep body, its depth greater 
than the length of the head, specially in the adult in which the 
back is considerably elevated; profile of head much depressed 
before eye, the sharp snout abruptly projecting. The length of 
the head is one third of the standard body length ; the depth of 
body is contained from two and one third to two and two thirds 
times in its length; the eye in adult nearly as long as snout, its 
length contained five and one half times in length of head; 
maxillary three sevenths as long as the head, reaching to below 
posterior margin of eye; preopercle with only two developed 
spines, the uppermost usually wholly wanting; the median spine 
often divided, the lower one largest and directed partly down- 
ward; opercular spine small; first dorsal spine a little lower 
than second, which is nearly or quite free from the soft rays; 
gill rakers short and thick, close set, eight to 10 in number^ 
D. II, 25; A. 14 or 15. 



542 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Color. Dusky olive brown, somewhat clouded; sides with a 
few irregular whitish spots; young spotted with brownish. 

South Atlantic coast, U. S., straying northward to coast of 

Rhode Island. The species is frequently taken in moderately 

deep water off Charleston, Pensacola and Key West. Mitchill 

described it from the Straits of Bahama. The common name 

is given in allusion to the soapy feeling of the skin. The fish is 

small and has no value for food. Nothing is recorded of its 

habits. 

Family lobotidae 

Triple-tails 
Genus lobotes Cuvier 
Body oblong, compressed, and elevated, covered with moder- 
ate-sized, weakly ctenoid scales; profile of head concave, the 
snout prominent; mouth moderate, oblique, with thick lips; 
upper jaw very protractile; lower jaw the longer; maxillary 
without supplemental bone; jaws with narrow bands of villi- 
form teeth, in front of which is a row of larger conical teeth 
directed backward; no teeth on vomer or palatines; preorbital 
narrower than eye; preopercle strongly serrate. Branchi- 
ostegals six. Dorsal fin continuous, with 12 spines which may 
be depressed in a shallow groove; soft rays of dorsal and anal 
fins elevated; anal spines graduated; bases of soft dorsal and 
anal thickened and scaly; caudal rounded. Air bladder present. 
Pyloric caeca three. 

267 Lobotes surinamensis (Bloch) 
Flasher; Triple-tail 

Holocentrus surinamensis Bloch, Ichthyol. pi. 243, 1790, Surinam. 

Bodianus triurus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 418, pi. Ill, 
fig. 10, 1815, Powles Hook, N. J. 

Lobotes auctoram Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 338, 1859. 

Lobotes surinamensis Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 319, 1830; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 88, pi. 18, fig. 49, 1842, New York; 
Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1,159, pi. 23, fig. 2, 1856; Jordan & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 555, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
TL S. Nat. Mus. 1235, 1896, pi. CXCIV, fig. 510, 1900; H. M. Smith, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 100, 1898; Sherwood & Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. 
C: 1901, 28, 1901, Narragansett Bay. 

The body is oblong, deep, its depth four ninths of its length 
without the caudal; least depth of caudal peduncle three tenths 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 543 

of body depth; profile of head very oblique; nuchal region con- 
vex; head short, its length less than one third of total without 
caudal; lower jaw prominent; maxillary very heavy, extending 
beyond middle of orbit, its width one half diameter of eye; 
snout about equal to eye which is one sixth as long as the head; 
scales around eye very small, those on opercle large; first dorsal 
spine shortest, two thirds as long as the second, two fifths as 
long as the third, one fourth as long as the fifth and longest, 
which is three eighths as long as the head; the longest ray of 
soft dorsal is one half as long as the head, and about equal to 
the longest ray of the anal; anal spines graduated, the first 
being two thirds as long as the eye and the third one fourth as 
long as the head; the pectoral reaches to below the seventh 
spine of the dorsal, its length one half the length of head; the 
ventral origin is under the lower axil of the pectoral; the ven- 
tral fin equals the postorbital part of the head in length, and 
reaches to below the tenth spine of the dorsal. Base of soft 
dorsal, anal, and caudal with fine scales. D. XI, I, 16; A. III. 
11; V. I, 5; P. I, 15; scales 59 (pores about 53). 

Blackish above, silvery gray on the sides, often blotched and 
tinged with yellow; fins dusky gray, sometimes mingled with 
yellow. 

The flasher is a large species, found in all warm seas, ranging 
on our coast from Cape Cod to Panama; it reaches the length 
of 3 feet and is used for food. At Woods Hole, according to 
Dr Smith, it is very rarely taken. Specimens were secured, 
however, in August 1873, December 1875, Sep. 20, 1886, and in 
August 1890. The individual obtained in 1886 was caught in a 
trap at Menemsha, Martha's Vineyard. The Rhode Island Fish 
Commission has a specimen weighing 6 pounds and measuring 22 
inches, which was taken Sep. 10, 1900, in a trap off Prudence 
island, Narragansett bay. The example described and figured 
by Mitchill was taken at Powles Hook N. J. According to 
Mitchill specimens weighing four or five pounds were occas- 
ionally secured, and the fish was sometimes called black grunt. 
De Kay knew the fish only from the accounts of it given by 
Mitchill and Holbrook. 



544 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Family priacanthidae 

Catalufas 
Genus priacanthus Cuvier 
Scales very small, 80 to 100 in the lateral line; body oblong, 
more than twice as long as deep; preopercle with a spine at 
angle; interorbital area externally transversely convex, the 
cranium itself transversely concave, the elevation being formed 
of flesh; a conspicuous foramen in the interorbital area; lateral 
line extending upward and backward from upper angle of gill 
opening toward second dorsal spine, below which it changes its 
course, following outline of back to end of dorsal fin, thence 
direct to middle of caudal; anal fin rather long, its rays about 
III, 14; dorsal rays about X, 13. Species rather numerous, in 
the tropical seas. 

268 Priacanthus arenatus Ouv. & Val. 
Catalufa; Bigeye 

..Priacanthus arenatus Cuvier & "Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 101, 

1829, Brazil; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 971, 1883; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1237, 1896, pi. OXCV, 

fig. 511, 1900; H. M. Smith, Bull. IT. S. F. C. 1897, 100. 1898, Woods 

Hole, Mass. 
.Priacanthus macrophthalmus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 

97. 1829, based upon Anthias macrophthalmus Bloch, an Asiatic species; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 215, 1859; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 

16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 544, 1883. 

Body oblong, compressed, moderately long, its greatest depth 
about one third of the total length without caudal; the caudal 
peduncle slender, its least depth equal to length of snout. The 
head is rather short, about two sevenths of total without caudal; 
the snout is short, one fourth as long as the head, and two 
thirds as long as the eye; the interorbital space is narrow and 
convex; the posterior nostrils are in a common oblong opening 
within which is a septum considerably below the surface; gill 
rakers 20 to 23; the maxillary is broad posteriorly and reaches 
to below the front of the pupil; the lower jaw projects consider- 
ably; preopercle with an oblique point at its angle; opercle with 
a fiat pointed spine, not projecting. Dorsal spines all slender, 
the first only one half as long as the last and two ninths as 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 545 

long as the head; the anterior portion of the spinous dorsal is 
regularly graduated; no notch between the spines and soft rays 
and the soft rays are not longer than the spines; dorsal spines 
more or less granulate on the edges. Caudal slightly concave, 
its lobes subequal, the middle rays nearly one half as long as 
the head. Ventral origin slightly in advance of origin of spinous 
dorsal; the fin reaches to a point nearly under the eighth spine 
of the dorsal, but not to the anal origin. Pectorals about one 
half as long as the head. First anal spine two thirds as long 
as the third, and one fourth as long as the head; the longest 
anal ray is less than one half as long as the head. D. X, 14; A. 
Ill, 15; V. I, 5; P. I, 16; scales 9-98 to 115-42; pores wanting on 
some of the scales. 

Color, silvery red; anal, soft dorsal, and caudal with a black 
edge; no spots on dorsal; posterior half of ventral black; about 
eight small dark blotches along lateral line, the largest less than 
one half as long as the pupil. 

The catalufa is a native of the tropical parts of the Atlantic; 
it has been recorded from Brazil, the West Indies, and Madeira, 
and sometimes migrates northward in the Gulf Stream to 
^arragansett Bay, Vineyard sound, and neighboring waters irk 
summer. 

At Woods Hole it is rare; seven specimens were obtained in 
September and October 1876, and afterward for several years 
. three or four were caught annually. On Oct. 2, 1888, a specimen 
3f inches long was taken in a seine at Quisset Harbor. 

Genus pseudopriacanthus Bleeker 
Scales large, very rough, 35 to 50 in the lateral line; body 
ovate, not twice as long as deep; preopercle with two small 
spines at angle; inter orbital space broad and flat, there being 
little flesh between skin and skull; no foramen in inter- 
orbital area; lateral line changing its course below the fourth 
dorsal spine; anal short, its rays III, 9 to 11; dorsal X, 11. 
Otherwise essentially as in Priacanthus, the species- 
living in deeper water. 



546 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

269 Pseudopriacanthus altus (Gill) 
Short Bigeye 

Prlacanthus altus Gill, Ptoc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 132, 1862, Narraganseti 
Bay; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 545, 1883. 

Pseudopriacanthus altus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 20, 1879; 
Jordan & Eigenmann, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 269, 1887; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1239, 1896, pi. OXOV, fig. 512, 
1900; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 100, 1898; op. cit. 1901, 33,. 
1901, Woods Hole, Mass. 

Body ovate, compressed, its greatest depth one half of the 
total length without caudal; the caudal peduncle short and 
stout, its least depth two thirds of its length and equal to post- 
orbital part of head. Profile little oblique; mouth large, sub- 
vertical; snout short, one half as long as the eye, which is nearly 
one half as long as the head; maxillary very broad posteriorly,, 
its width nearly one half its length, extending to beyond the 
middle of the pupil. Head large, nearly two fifths of total 
length without caudal; teeth in upper jaw in a narrow villiform 
band, the outer series enlarged; similar teeth in the lower jaw, 
but the inner teeth larger than in the upper jaw; preorbital 
strongly serrate, narrow, one half diameter of pupil; preopercle 
serrate, the serrae of the lower margin largest; no preopercular 
spine; opercle and subopercle serrate on their lower margins. 
Dorsal spines from the first to the fifth graduated, the first two 
fifths as long as the fifth, which is as long as the snout and eye 
combined; the last spine is one half as long as the head; the 
first soft ray is two thirds as long as the head, and the longest 
soft ray equals the length of the head without the snout, the 
last dorsal ray is about as long as the first dorsal spine. The 
caudal is slightly convex, its middle rays equal to snout and eye 
combined. Anal spines graduated, the first one third as long as 
the head, the third nearly one half as long as the head; the 
anterior soft rays are produced as in the dorsal, the longest as 
long as snout and eye combined. The short and broad pectorals 
are nearly one half as long as the head. Ventrals large, extend- 
ing to the third spine of anal fin. Scales all extremely rough, 
very strongly ctenoid, smallest on the head, but larger on the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 547 

maxilla than elsewhere on the head; lateral line ascending over 
the pectoral, then nearly following the outline of the back to 
the caudal peduncle, where it becomes median. 

D. X, 11; A. Ill, 9; scales 10-45-23. 

Color in life bright red or crimson; the fins, except the pec- 
torals, with black tips ; the eye glowing like molten gold. 

The species is found in rather deep water in the West Indies 
and from the Caribbean to Charleston, the young often follow- 
ing the Gulf Stream northward in summer to Cape Cod. The 
largest individual recorded is 11 inches long. Most of the speci- 
mens taken near Cape Cod are small. The northern limit of the 
fish appears to be Marblehead Mass., where an example was 
taken Sep. 3, 1859. 

The type of the species was collected in Narragansett bay. 
Individuals were obtained at Woods Hole Mass., Sep. 29, 1875, 
Sep. 26, 1877 and Nov. 28, 1885. On Nov. 1, 1890, a specimen 
was found in the Acushnet river, at New Bedford. In 1899 over 
100 specimens were taken at Woods Hole, and in 1900 only nine 
were observed between August 15 and September 8. The writer 
obtained the species in moderate numbers in the Gulf of 
Mexico in 1886. The colors of large individuals appear to be 
less brilliant than in the young, but the fish is always strikingly 
handsome. 

Family lutianidae 

Snappers 
Genus xeomaems Girard 
Body oblong, compressed, the back somewhat elevated; head 
long, naked above, except for a broad oblique band of scales at 
the nape; nostrils normally close together, neither with a tube; 
mouth large, the jaws with bands of villiform teeth, besides 
which there is usually an outer series of larger teeth in each 
jaw, and two to four stronger teeth or canines in front of upper 
jaw; vomer with villiform teeth; villiform teeth on the pala- 
tines; usually one or more patches of teeth on the tongue in 
the adult; no molar teeth; no teeth on pterygoids; preopercle 
without notch or with a shallow emargination; posterior limb 



54S NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

of preopercle finely serrate; gill rakers rather few, shortish; soft 
rays of dorsal and anal scaly at base; dorsal spines 10 (rarely 
11), continuous with the soft rays; caudal lunate or forked; anal 
rays seven to nine. Interorbital area not flat nor separated 
from the occipital region, the median and lateral crests procur- 
rent on it, and the frontal narrowed forward; fronto-occipital 
crest ceasing anteriorly far from front of frontal, usually be- 
hind eye; prefrontal with posterior areas impressed, long and 
cribriform; parietal crest not confluent with orbital rim, but 
nearly or quite joined anteriorly to fronto-occipital crest (in 
species examined); prefrontals with the articular facets arising 
from diverging Y-shaped ridges; basisphenoid with an anterior 
iobiform extension. Vertebrae 10+14=24. 

270 Neomaenis griseus (Linnaeus) 

Gray Snapper; Mangrove Snapper 

Labrus griseus Linnaeus, SystL Nat. ed. X, I, 283, 1758. 

Mesoprion griseus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II, 469, IS'28, 

San Domingo. 
Lobotes emarginatus Baied & Girard, 9th Smithson. Rep. 332, 1855, Bees- 
ley's Point, N. J. 
Mesoprion caballerote Poey, Repertorio, II, 157, 1868. 
Lutjanus caballerote Poey, Syn. Pise. Gubens. 293, 1868; Jordan & Gilbert. 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 921, 1883; Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. 

Mus. VI, 42, 1884. 
Lutjanus stearnsii Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. I, 179, 1878, Peusa- 

cola Fla.; Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 396, pi. 142, 1884. 
Lutjanus griseus Jordan & Swain, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 439, 1884; Jordan 

& Fesler, Rept. U. S, F. C. 1889 to 1891, 441, 1893. 
Neomaenis griseus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1255, 1898; 

H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 100, 1898; op. cit. 1901, 33, 1901. 

Body elongate, its depth about one third of total length with- 
out caudal; back not much compressed; profile from snout to 
nape almost straight; outline of back slightly convex. Head 
rather large, four elevenths of total length without caudal; the 
snout pointed, one third as long as the head; eye small, two 
thirds as long as the snout, rather more than one fifth as long 
as the head; preorbital broad, about as broad as the interorbital 
space which is gently convex and one sixth of length of head; 
occipital keel low. Mouth large, the jaws nearly equal in front; 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 549 

the maxillary reaches to below front of pupil, its length con- 
tained two and three fifths times in length of head; eight 
-developed gill rakers on the first arch, one above and seven 
below the angle, the longest one half as long as the eye; 
there are seven rows of scales on the cheeks; the single patch 
of lingual teeth twice as long as broad; vomerines in a tri- 
angular patch on the head, with a long, narrow backward 
extension; palatines in a broad band; scales extend upon the 
membranes of the dorsal, anal and caudal fins for about one 
half their hight, or rather more on the caudal; two very strong 
canines in the upper jaw, and two much smaller ones between 
these and the symphysis; mandible without enlarged canines; 
preopercle finely serrate above, coarsely serrate at angle, the 
posterior margin nearly vertical, with a broad and deep notch; 
scales comparatively large, in horizontal rows below the lateral 
line, those above lateral line running parallel with it till below 
the soft dorsal, where they become slightly irregular and 
oblique; seven rows of scales on cheek; an embedded row on 
interopercle; a row on subopercle, and seven rows on opercle; 
temporal region with about three rows of large scales; top of 
liead, snout, and jaws naked. 

The first dorsal spine is one eighth as long as the head, one 
half as long as the second and the last; the fourth and longest 
spine is one third as long as the head; the longest ray of the 
soft dorsal is equal to the longest spine; the last ray is one half 
as long as the upper jaw. The caudal is slightly emarginate, 
the upper lobe slightly the longer, the middle rays five ninths 
as long as the head. The first anal spine is three sevenths as 
long as the third which is nearly as long, but not so strong, 
as the second and nearly one fourth as long as the head; the 
second anal ray is longest, nearly four ninths as long as the 
head, and more than one seventh of total length without caudal. 
Ventrals one fifth of total length without caudal; pectorals one 
fourth of the same length, and scarcely reaching vent. B. VII; 
D. X, 14; A. Ill, 8; V. I, 5; P. I, 16; scales 7-47 to 50-12 to 14; 
47 pores in lateral line. 



550 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The edge of the spinous dorsal membrane is black. The 
caudal has a narrow black margin. The included portion of the 
maxilla is brown. The scales of the. body below the lateral line 
have median golden stripes, as in some species of M u g i 1 . 

Color in life, very dark green above, the middle part of each 
scale brassy black, its edge broadly pearly whitish; below 
lateral line the duskiness of the middle of the scale passes into 
brassy, and below into bright coppery, the belly and lower parts 
of head being more or less distinctly bright coppery red; the 
lower jaw grayish; no blue stripe below eye except in the very 
young; top of head blackish olive; dorsal blackish, its margin 
darker and tinged with maroon red; soft dorsal dusky, anteriorly 
slightly edged with whitish; caudal violaceous or maroon black; 
anal wine color, edged with whitish; pectorals pale flesh color; 
ventrals whitish, faintly marked with reddish. Young with a 
blackish band from snout through eye to nape; a blue streak 
below eye; spinous dorsal with a maroon colored band along 
edge. 

The gray snapper inhabits the West Indies, the Caribbean 
sea and southward to Brazil, the Gulf of Mexico, and our Atlan- 
tic coast northward regularly to New Jersey, and, frequently, 
to Cape Cod. The fish is valuable as food; it probably reaches 
a length of nearly 3 feet and the weight of 20 pounds. Only 
young examples have been identified with certainty from the 
Cape Cod region. On Sep. 21, 1897, a specimen, 2J inches long, 
was taken in Eel pond, at Woods Hole Mass., and on Sep. 26, 
1897, an individual 2 inches long was caught in Great Harbor, 
Woods Hole. This is the first record of its occurrence in the 
locality. On Aug. 29, 1900, five specimens, the largest If inches 
long, were taken in Katama bay, near Woods Hole, according to 
Dr Smith. In these " the general color is pale, with 6 to 8 nar- 
row, dark, longitudinal stripes; spinous dorsal fin dark, with a 
sharply defined blackish bar involving the distal part of the fin, 
the extreme edge being white." 

271 Neomaenis blackfordi (Goode & Bean) 
Red Snapper 

Lutjanus Uackfordii Goode & Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. I, 176, 1878 (full 
description of adult); II, 137, 138, 1879, characters and measurements 
of young; Goode, Game Fishes N. A., 16, 1878, with colored plate. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 551 

Lutjanus UacJcfordi Jordan & Gilbert. Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 549, 1883; 

Bean, 19th Rep. Coram. Fish. N. Y. 263, pi. XVI, fig. 20, 1890. 
Lutjanus campeachiamis Jordan & Gilbert, op. cit. 971 (not Mesoprion 

eampeachanus Poey, Mem. Cub. II, 149, 1860); Jordan, Proc. U. S. Nat. 

Mus. VII, 35, 1884. 
Neomaenis aya Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1264, 1898, 

pi. CXCVII, fig. 516,1900 (not Bodianus aya Bloch, Ichthyol. 227, 1790); 

H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1807, 100, 1898. 
Neomaenis UacJcfordi H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 33, 1901. 

Body much compressed; its upper profile ascending from the 
snout, with a slight concavity in front of eye, to the origin of 
the spinous dorsal, thence descending in a long curve to the 
base of the caudal ; under profile much less arched. Jaws equal. 
Greatest hight of body equals length of head, which is three 
eighths of total length without caudal. Least depth of caudal 
peduncle equals one third of the distance from the snout to the 
pectoral. Preoperculum finely and evenly serrated, except at 
the angle, where the denticulations are coarser; a slight emar- 
gination above the angle, in which is received an elevation upon 
the interopercle, and two shallower emarginations above. 
Maxillary not reaching to below front of orbit; mandible not 
below middle of orbit. Lingual teeth in two patches. Vomer- 
ine patch a quadrilateral figure, with concave sides, and with 
the longest sides posteriorly. Palatine patches somewhat 
spatulate, broadest posteriorly. Eye circular, its diameter con- 
tained seven and one third times in length of head. Snout 
nearly equal to maxillary. Mandible equal to one half hight 
of body at ventrals. Distance of spinous dorsal from snout about 
three times length of snout; length of its base about equal to pec- 
toral. Longest dorsal spine three times as long as the first, and 
twice as long as the second anal spine; it is nearly as long as 
the snout. The longest dorsal ray (sixth) is contained three 
and one fourth times in the length of the head. The anal base 
is a little longer than, the mandible; the first anal spine is one 
half as long as the second, which is one third as long as the 
ventral fin; the third spine is slenderer and slightly longer than 
the second; the longest ray of the anal is twice as long as the 
snout. Caudal much emarginate, crescent-shaped; the middle 



552 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

rays two thirds as long as the outer. Pectoral midway between 
snout and origin of anal, its length twice that of the maxillary. 
Ventral as long as snout and eye combined, slightly more than 
one half as long as head; it extends to below the eighth spine 
of the dorsal. B. VII; D. X, 14; A. Ill, 9; V. I, 5; P. I, 16; 
scales 8 to 9-50-15 to 16; gill rakers on lower arch, 8. 

The scales extend half the length of the anal rays on the mem- 
brane; on the external caudal rays they extend nearly to the 
tip, and with slight traces upon the spinous dorsal in front of 
the spines; and in the soft dorsal somewhat more extended. 

Color uniform scarlet. Center of scales lighter, also the 
belly, which is silvery ; inside of axil of pectoral darker maroon. 

On Oct. 26, 1887, Mr E. G. Blackford, Fish Commissioner of 
the State of New York, forwarded to the National Museum a 
young red snapper, four and one half inches long, which was 
caught in Great South bay, at Bay Shore, Long .Island. This is 
the smallest red snapper that we have obtained, and it is the 
first record of the occurrence of the species so far north. The 
specimen has been catalogued as 39213 of the Museum Fish 
Register. 

As in other young fishes the size of the eye, the length of the 
head and the colors are different from these characters in the 
adult. 

A description of the colors of the fresh fish follows : 

A dark band nearly as wide as the diameter of the eye is 
placed immediately in front of the spinous dorsal; it fades out^ 
about the median line of the body. Three similar bands, and 
of like size, under the dorsal, separated by narrow interspaces 
and fading out below. The fourth band contains a blotch as- 
large as the eye, which passes slightly beneath the lateral line. 
A fifth band is under the last third of the soft dorsal and con- 
tinues backward to the caudal, not descending below the lateral 
line. The second and third bands are traversed vertically by a 
narrow median stripe of the rosy body color. Membrane of 
dorsals and caudal with a narrow black edge. Spine and ex- 
ternal ray of ventral milk white. Anal rosy, except membrane 
of first two spines and last three rays, which is milk white. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 553 

On July 12, 1890, Mr Vinal N. Edwards obtained a specimen 
of the red snapper, which weighed 12 pounds, from a bass trap 
set in 10 feet of water, at Menemsha, Martha's Vineyard. Mr 
Edwards believed this to be the first one taken on the Massa- 
chusetts coast, but thought one was caught some years ago near 
Block Island. 

On October 10, 1890, a specimen weighing 8^ pounds was 
taken at the same place. On September 7 and 11, and October 
20, 1900, nine specimens were taken in the vicinity of Woods 
Hole Mass. and recorded in the article of Dr Smith. The largest 
of these was under 2 inches long. Dr Smith described the colors 
as follows: "General color, red like the adult fish; body marked 
by about seven double dark cross-bands; in the cross-band 
nearest the junction of the two parts of the dorsal fin is a large 
jet black blotch extending from the fin to below the lateral line; 
spinous dorsal dusky; soft dorsal with a dusky median zone 
and a dark edge; caudal pale, with a dark narrow border.'' 

The red snapper has become one of the most famous fishes 
of our northern markets, and is always attractive on account 
of its large size, brilliant color, and the excellence of its flesh. 
We know that the species is to be found on our east coast from 
Cape Cod to the Carribbean sea. It is rare, however, north of 
Cape Hatteras and the principal fisheries are located off the 
coasts of Georgia and Florida, and in the Gulf of Mexico. 

When the red snapper was named in honor of Mr Eugene 
G. Blackford, in recognition of his invaluable contributions to 
the science of ichthyology, the describers of the species had 
carefully considered the question of nomenclature and satisfied 
themselves that none of the names known to them could with 
certainty be associated with this fish. Various earlier names 
have been suggested from time to time by several authors as 
possibly available for the species. In 1883 Dr D. S. Jordan con- 
sidered it to be the L. campechianus, described by Poey 
in 1860. This, however, is a species with much smaller scales 
if the description be accurate. The type has not been exam- 
ined by any one in the United States so far as I am informed. 



r>r)4 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

A little later Dr Jordan suggested that the name L u t j a n u s 
v i v a n u s of Cuv. & Val. should be accepted for the red 
snapper; but my examination of the types of this species in the 
Museum at Paris showed it to be a small Lutjanus, and 
very distinct in every way from L. blackfordi. In recent 
lists Dr Jordan has adopted the specific name a y a of Bloch, 
published in 1787 in the Auslandische Fisohe. This name was 
used for a species of Lutjanus more than twenty years ago 
by Dr Theodore Gill. 

I will now state what may be learned from the literature con- 
cerning the a y a. The Bodianus aya of Bloch is dis- 
tinctly based upon the Acara aya of Maurice, prince of 
Nassau, as set forth in his mss, tome 2, page 351. The plate 
published by Bloch is copied from a drawing by Prince Maurice, 
and his description is drawn from the same source. The fish 
which formed the subject of the ^ description and illustration by 
the prince of Nassau was the aya or Garanha of Brazil, 
a red species, said to attain to a length of 3 feet. The a y a is 
distinctly described as having 9 spines and 18 articulated rays 
in the dorsal. It is represented as having 40 scales in the 
lateral line, and the scales are said to be ornamented with sil- 
very, submarginal stripes. Bloch was informed that the fish 
was known to the French, Germans and English as the aya 
and to the Brazilians as the garanha. Elsewhere in the 
description the general color is said to be red, the back dark 
red, and the belly silvery. This is all the information to be 
derived from Bloch's account of the species, and if the data men- 
tioned are to be relied upon, the fish is certainly not our red 
snapper. We have no other knowledge concerning the aya 
of Brazil. It has not been shown that our species ranges so far 
south and several red forms resembling L. blackfordi are 
associated with it. Various interpretations of the aya have 
appeared in ichthyologieal works. Dr Giinther, in his Catalogue 
of Fishes in the British Museum, vol. I, page 198, adopts the name 
for a small-scaled Lutjanus, which has 65 scales in the 
lateral line aud 32 in a transverse series. Of this he has a fine 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 555 

specimen from South America. A very curious translation of 
the earlier descriptions of the aya is to be found in Lace'pede's 
account of the species, which is given below. The diagnostic 
characters are stated as follows: 

Nine spines and 18 articulated rays in the dorsal ; one spine 
and eight divided rays in the anal; the caudal crescent-shaped; 
each opercle terminating in a long and flat spine; the general 
color red; the back blood color; the belly silvery. 

The author, in another part of his Natural History of Fishes, 
writes : 

A figure of the aya has been published by Marcgrave, Piso, 
Willughby, Jonston, Ruysch, the prince of Nassau [Maurice] 
and Bloch, who has copied the drawing of Prince Maurice. It 
is found in lakes of Brazil. It frequently reaches a length of 
one meter, and it is so plentiful that large numbers of this 
species are salted or sun-dried for export. It may be very 
desirable and, perhaps, sufficiently easy to acclimatize this large 
and beautiful oodianus, the flesh of which is very agreeable to 
the taste, in the fresh waters of Europe, and particularly in 
lakes and ponds of France. 

Family haemulidae 
G ranters 
Genus orthopristis Girard 
Body moderately elongate, compressed, the back arched; head 
compressed, the snout usually long; mouth rather small, placed 
low; teeth in jaws in villiform bands, the outer teeth above 
somewhat enlarged; eye moderate; preopercle with its verti- 
cal limb straight, finely serrate or entire; gill rakers rather 
long and slender; dorsal spines rather slender, 12 or 13 in num- 
ber, the fin usually not much notched ; soft dorsal long and low, 
usually with 15 or 16 rays, the membranes usually naked; anal 
spines small; caudal lunate. Scales rather small, those above 
lateral line arranged in series not parallel with it; usually no 
smaller accessory scales at base of the larger ones. This genus 
contains a considerable number of species differing from 
Pomadasis in the long anal fin, the smaller scales, and in 
the less development of the dorsal spines. Nearly all the 
species are American. 



556 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

272 Orthopristis chrysopterus (Linnaeus) 

Pigfish; Hogfish 

Perca chrysoptera Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 485, 1706, Charleston, S. C. 
Labrus fulvomaculatus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 406, 1815, 

New York. 
Pristipoma fasciatum Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 285, 

1830 1 , New York, young; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 301, 1859, 

New Orleans. 
Haemulon fulvomaculatum De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 84, pi. 7, fig. 21, 

1842, New York; Holbrook, Ichth, S. C. 156, pi. 22, fig. 2, 1856. 
Pristipoma fulvomaculatum Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 301, 1859, 

copied from Holbrook. 
Orthopristis duplex Gerard, U. S. Mex. Bd. Surv. Zool. Fish. 15, pi. 9, figs. 

1 to 4, 1859, Texas. 
Pomadasys fulvomaculatus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 551, 

1883. 
Orthopristis chrysopterus Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 142, pi. Ill, fig. 11, 

1888; Jordan & Feslee, Kept U. S. F. C. 499, 1893; Bean, Bull. Am. 

Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 366, 1897; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 1338, 1898, pi. OCX, fig. 541, 1900. 

Body oblong, compressed, not much elevated. The depth of 
the body is one third of the length, which is three and one third 
times the length of the head; head long; snout conic; mouth 
low and small, the maxillary barely reaching to the nostrils; 
outer teeth slender and rather short; eye placed high, 4-J in 
head, nearly midway in its length, its diameter two thirds depth 
of the broad preorbital; dorsal and anal entirely naked, with a 
sheath of scales at base; anterior spines of dorsal higher than 
the posterior, which are tower than the soft rays; anal spines 
short, graduated; pectoral moderate, reaching past tips of ven- 
trals; caudal forked, the upper lobe the longer. Length 1 foot 
to 15 inches. 

D. XII, 16; A. Ill, 12; Lat. 1, 75; pyloric caeca six. 

Light brown, silvery below; sides with numerous orange 
colored and yellow spots; those above the lateral line in oblique 
series, those below in horizontal; vertical fins with similar spots; 
head bluish with yellow spots; angle of mouth and gill mem- 
branes with orange. 

The pigfish ranges along the Atlantic coast from New York 
southward; adult individuals are rarely seen even as far north 
as New Jersey, but the young are common. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 557 

At Beesley's Point N. J. Aug. 10, 1887, many young individuals 
were taken in the seine. D. XII, 16; A. Ill, 13; scales, 75. 

A dark stripe beginning on nape and dividing sends one branch 
along the back on each side not far from dorsal outline; a dark 
stripe from eye to root of caudal; cheeks and opercles with 
several narrow orange stripes: a narrow orange stripe between 
the two dark body stripes and another below the lower dark 
stripe; below the second orange stripe with numerous orange 
spots, not continuous. These specimens are from less than 1 
inch to more than 2 inches long. 

Young examples were seined at Somers Point, August 13, and 
abundantly at Ocean City, August 16. The croaking sound 
made by these little fishes is quite noticeable. 

September 5, Mr TV. S. Keates brought in two examples which 
had been caught on a hook with clam bait; these are 5J inches 
long, and much larger than the average size. Specimens from 
4J to 5 inches long were caught at Beesley's Point, August 23; 
in these there is only a trace of the black lateral stripe along 
the median line, and the sides have several broad, dark bands. 

September 9 an individual 5J inches long was taken at Bees- 
ley's Point. This species is unknown to the fishermen. One 
angler described its croaking as resembling the quacking of a 
duck. 

Several examples were taken in Gravesend bay, Oct. 24, 1894. 
De Kay mentions it as a rare fish, but occasionally appearing, 
he was informed, in Xew York harbor in considerable numbers. 
He states that it is a very savory food. 

Family sparidae 

P orgies 

Genus stexotomus Gill 

This genus is close to Calamus, having the same quill like 

interhaemal bones, the flattened incisors and antrorse dorsal 

spine mainly distinguishing it; temporal crest obsolete; frontal 

bones not gibbous nor porous; antrorse spine attached to the 

fourth interneural by a downward projecting spine about thrice 

as long as the spine; lateral crest nowhere coalescing with the 



558 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

supraoccipital crest; interorbital area flattish, with two low 
ridges, a small foramen in each of these above front of pupil; 
interorbital area much contracted anteriorly; a strongly pro- 
jecting prefrontal process, which makes an acute angle with the 
supraorbital. American shore fishes. 

273 Stenotoirms chrysops (Linnaeus) 

Scup; Porgy; Sand Porgee 

Spams chrysops Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 471, 1766, Charleston S. C. 
Spurns argyrops Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 471, 1766, Charleston S. C. 

young. 
Laonis versicolor Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 404, pi. Ill, 

fig. 7, 1815, New York. 
Sargus arenosus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 91, pi. 22, fig. 67, 1842, Long 

Island, young. 
Pagrus argyrops De Kay, op. cit. 95, pi. IX, fig. 25, 1842; adult; Gunther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 472, 1859. 
Sargus ambassis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 449, 1859, New York. 
Diplodus argyrops Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 557, 1883. 
Stenotomus argyrops Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 17, 1879, Cape 

Ann Mass. 
Stamtomus chrysops Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 142, 1888; 19th Rep. 

Comm. Fish. N. Y. 261, pi. XIV, fig. 18, 1890; Jordan & Fesler, Rept. 

U. S, F. C. 1889 to 1891, 507, 1893; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

IX, 366, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 100, 1898; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1346, 1898, pi. OCXI, fig. 544, 1900; 

Bean, 52d Ann. Rept. N. Y. State Mus. 106, 1900; Sherwood & 

Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 28, 1901. 

Body ovate-elliptic, compressed, its greatest depth nearly one 
half of total length without caudal; anterior profile steep, nape 
convex, a strong depression above and in front of eye; least depth 
of caudal peduncle one fourth of greatest depth, and equal to 
postorbital part of head. Head short and deep, its length con- 
tained three and one fourth to three and one half times in total 
without caudal; snout one third as long as head; eye one fourth 
to one fifth as long as head, much narrower than the preorbital; 
mouth small, terminal, the maxillary reaching to below the pos- 
terior nostrils; incisor teeth very narrow, almost conical; molars 
in two rows above; cheeks short and deep, with four rows of 
scales; top of head, snout, orbitals, and chin naked; gill rakers 
small, about 6 + 10 on first arch; temporal crest obsolete; supra- 
occipital crest continuous with the frontal bones; a procumbent 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 559 

spine in front of the dorsal; first dorsal spine as long as the eve; 
third, and longest, dorsal spine as long as the head without the 
snout; last dorsal spine nearly one third as long as head; soft 
dorsal highest in the middle, its longest ray (sixth) equal to 
snout. Caudal deeply forked, its middle rays two fifths as long 
as the external, and equal to snout. First anal spine three 
fourths as long as the eye; second and third about equal, two 
sevenths as long as the head; soft rays rather short, the first and 
second about as long as the snout. Pectoral long, reaching to 
above the second ray of the anal. Ventral four, fifths as long 
as the head, reaching nearly to vent. D. XII, 12; A. Ill, 11; V. 
1,5; P. I, 15. Scales 8-50-16. 

Color silvery, with bright reflections, dusky above, upper part 
of head deep brown; dorsal horn color, the last rays with a yel- 
lowish tinge ; axil of pectoral dusky ; young with five or six dusky 
bars; iris golden, mottled with silvery and brownish. Length, 
about 1 foot. 

The scup is one of our best known fishes. In many places it 
is better known under the name porgee. Mitchill and De Kay 
described it as the big porgee. Another spelling for the same 
name is pogy. Scup is an abbreviation of scuppaug, which in 
turn is a shorter form for the Narragansett name, mishcuppauog. 
The name fairmaid, which is said to be given to the scup on the 
Virginia coast, does not rightfully belong to this species, but 
rather to the sailor's choice (Lagodo n). The name fairmaid 
is regularly applied to the latter species at Cape Charles Va. 
according to B. A. Bean. In Norfolk Va. Mr Bean heard the 
name maiden for the young of the common scup. 

The scup seldom migrates north of Cape Cod, though it has 
been taken occasionally off Cape Ann. Attempts to introduce 
it into Massachusetts bay have been unsuccessful. 

The scup comes into our northern waters in great schools, the 
large spawning fish coming first, making their appearance in 
New York waters in May. The species feeds upon small crus- 
taceans, mollusks and annelids, and is one of the readiest biters 
along the coast. The fishery fluctuates greatly; in certain years 



560 NEW YORK STATE MUSEfUM 

the fish is comparatively scarce, and in others it is extremely 
abundant. It is caught in pounds and traps, and remains in 
Great South bay till cold weather sets in. It has been taken 
on Cape Cod as late as December 10. Sometimes a sudden cold 
spell kills the fish in large numbers. 

In 1890 we found only a few specimens at Fire Island and at 
East Island, late in September, and on October 1 a few examples 
were taken in a trap at Islip. In 1898, adults were taken in 
moderate numbers off Southampton, August 3. Half grown 
specimens were obtained at Islip, August 18. A single young 
individual was seined at Nichols's Point, September 1, and a 
moderate number of young, about 2 inches long, were secured 
at the east side of Fire Island inlet, September 16. In 1901 small 
scup, about 6 inches long, were obtained in a gill net, August 13, 
and in Watts's pound, July 31, in Clam Pond cove. 

The scup arrives in Gravesend bay in May, and is taken as late 
as November. In captivity it lives till December, and in prop- 
erly heated water it can be kept indefinitely. It is thrifty, and 
is seldom in bad condition. 

At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, the fish appears 
about May 1 and leaves about October 15 or 20, being most 
abundant in June and July. Spawning occurs during first part 
of June, and young \ inch to f inch long are observed by the 
middle of July. The eggs are A" inch in diameter and hatch in 
four days at a mean temperature of 62° F. In 1900, the scup 
arrived off Newport April 21, at Cutty Hunk April 26, and at 
Woods Hole May 1. Hundreds of young are killed there an- 
nually by a sudden fall of temperature. The growth of the 
young is recorded by Sherwood and Edwards as follows: July 
3, length \ to \\ inches; August 2, \\ to 2 inches; September 6, 
2 to 3 inches; September 29, 3 to 4 inches; November 1, 4 inches. 
The largest individual observed weighed 3 pounds. 

The young are devoured in large numbers by cod, weakfish, 
bluefish and other predaceous species. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK - 561 

Genus lagodon Holbrook 
The essential character of this genus is in the form of the 
skull. Supraoccipital and temporal crests nowhere coalescent, 
the interorbital area not swollen; frontal bone in the interorbital 
area thin, concave in transverse section; temporal crest low, sepa- 
rated from supraoccipital crest by a flattish area which extends 
forward on each side of supraoccipital crest and to groove of 
premaxillary spines. Otherwise essentially as in A r c h o s a r- 
g u s , the antror.se dorsal spine present, the second interhaemal 
not modified. One species, the incisors deeply notched. 

274 Lagodon rhomboides (Linnaeus) 
Sailor's Choice 

Sparus rhomboides Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 470, 1766, Charleston S. C. 
Sargus rhomboides Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VI, 68, pi. 

143, 3830; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 93, pi. 71, fig. 228, 1842, copied 

from Cuvier & Valenciennes; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 447, 

1859. 
Diplodus rhomboides Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 558, 1883. 
Lagodon rhomboides Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 56, pi. 8, fig 1, 1856; 

ed. 2, 59, "I860; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 142, 1888; 19th Rep. 

Comni. Fish. N. Y. 263, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 366, 1897; 

H. M. Smith, Bull. U. Si. F. C. 1897, 101, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1358, 1898, pi. OCXV, fig. 552, 1900. 

Body ovate, elliptic, compressed, and somewhat elevated, the 
axis of the body near the middle of its depth; snout about in the 
axis. The depth of the body is contained two and one third times 
in its length. Head rather sharp, the length contained three 
and one half times in that of the body. Mouth small, the upper 
jaw more freely protractile than usual. Molars in two series; 
anterior incisors each deeply notched. Cheeks with 5 or 6 rows 
of scales; scales on the breast little reduced in size. A procum- 
bent spine before the dorsal fin; dorsal spines high, much higher 
than soft rays, the fourth highest; second anal spine little larger 
or longer than the third. Pectorals as long as the head; ventrals 
two thirds as long, not reaching to vent. D. XII, 11; A. Ill, 11. 
Scales 8-66-18. 

Brownish, white below; sides of head and body with horizon- 
tal stripes of light blue and golden; six or seven very faint 



562 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

darker vertical bands, disappearing with age; vertical fins yel- 
lowish, with bluish stripes; a dark axillary spot. 

This is called the salt water bream by Schoepff and the rhom- 
boidal porgee by DeKay. In Chesapeake bay it is the fairmaid. 
It is also called pinfish, squirrel fish, porgee, yellowtail and 
shiner. In Great South bay the name of the fish was unknown 
to the fishermen, and this is true in Great Egg Harbor bay, 
where the young are not uncommon in summer. 

In Gravesend bay it is not a common fish, but is found occa- 
sionally in summer. 

A single individual was obtained at Fire Island, October 1. 
The sailor's choice occurs as far north as Cape Cod, but it is not 
present in sufficient numbers to be considered among the impor- 
tant food fishes; south of Cape Hatteras, where it is abundant, 
it is valuable for food, and in many places is considered supe- 
rior to sheepshead; this is specially so in the St John's river. 

The sailor's choice feeds upon small invertebrates and min- 
nows. It is caught with the hook and in cast nets and seines. 

The eggs are described as pale blue in color and as large as 
mustard seed. Spawning takes place in the Gulf of Mexico in 
winter or early spring. The colors of the fish are very beauti- 
ful, the sides being ornamented with golden stripes on a pearly 
white ground and having numerous dark vertical bands. 

Genus archosargus Gill 
Body robust, short and deep, compressed, covered with large 
scales. Head deep, mouth moderate, the jaws with broad in- 
cisors in front and coarse molars on the sides; incisors entire or 
with a shallow notch; posterior nostril slitlike; opercles entire. 
Dorsal and anal spines strong, the soft parts of the fin short 
and rounded; a procumbent spine before the dorsal; caudal 
forked. Gill rakers small. Supraoccipital and temporal crests 
coalescent anteriorly, both disappearing in the gibbous, inter- 
orbital area; frontal bone between eyes transversely convex and 
more or less honeycombed; temporal crest separated from 
occipital crest by an excavated area, bounded anteriorly by the 
lateral crest, which merges into the supraoccipital above eye. 



FISHES OF NEiW YORK 



563 



This genus, like Lagodon,Stenotomus and Otrynter, 

which show the same character of the procumbent dorsal spine, 

is confined to American waters. There are two color types in 

the genus, one group being made up of the species with broad 

black crossbands, the other of species with golden streaks 

and inconspicuous crossbands, resembling the species of 

Lagodon. 

Subgenus archosaegus 

275 Archosargus probatocephahis (Walbaum) 

• Sheepshead 

Sparus probatoccphalus Walbaum, Art. Gen. Pise. 295, 1792, New York. 
Spams ovis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 392, pi. 2, fig. 5, 

1815. New York. 
Sargiis oris Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VI, 53, 1830; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 89, pi. 8, fig. 23, 1842; Holbrook, Ichth. 

S. C. ed. 1, 51, pi. 8, fig. 2, 1856; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 

447, 1859. 
Di plod us probatocephalus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 558, 

1883. 
AreJiosargus proMtocetphalus Gill, Cat. Fish. East Coast N. A. 27, 1873; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 142, pi. Ill, fig. 10, 1888, Soniers Point 

N. J., young; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 262, pi. XV, fig. 19, 1890; 

Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 366, 1897; ED. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

1897, 101, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1361, 

1898, pi. CCXVI, fig. 554, 1900. 

Body robust, becoming deep with age, the back compressed 
and elevated, the greatest depth from two fifths to one half of 
total length without caudal; the least depth of caudal peduncle 
equal to eighth dorsal spine, and three eighths length of head. 
Head one third or nearly one third of total length without 
caudal; eye placed high, one fifth to one fourth length of head; 
interorbital space one third greater than diameter of eye; 
mouth low, horizontal ; maxillary reaching nearly to below front 
of pupil, slightly more than one third as long as the head; 
incisors entire or slightly notched, serrate in the young, their 
breadth about one half their length; molars in three series 
above, in two below; those of the inner series larger; those 
behind the incisors very small. Gill rakers about 3 + 6. 
Cheeks with six rows of scales; scales on breast very 
small, crowded. Occipital crest broad. Dorsal spines very 



564 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

strong, the last considerably shortened so that the outline of 
the fin is emarginate, the fifth spine longest, four sevenths as 
long as the head, the first spine shorter than the eye; the third 
and fourth soft rays longest, two fifths as long as the head. 
The second anal spine more than twice as long as the first, very 
strong, two fifths as long as the head, and as long as the longest 
soft ray. Pectoral very long, longer than the head, and reach- 
ing nearly to or, sometimes, beyond the anal origin. Ventral 
large, one fifth of total length without caudal, reaching to be- 
low 19th spine of the dorsal. 

D. XII, 10 to 12; A. Ill, 10 to 11; V. I, 5; P. I, 14. Scales 
7 to 8-45 to 48-15 to 16. 

Grayish, with about eight vertical black bands, which are 
about as broad as the interspaces; dorsal dusky; ventral and 
anal black; base of pectoral dusky; the dark bands are most 
distinct in the young. 

The sheepshead ranges along the coast from Cape Cod to 
Texas; it is very rare as far north as Woods Hole Mass., but h\ 
southern waters it is still abundant. The species reaches a 
length of 30 inches and the weight of 20 pounds; it is one of 
the most valuable of our food fishes and is highly prized for 
its game qualities. 

In August 1887, the sheepshead was known to have bred in 
Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., where about 20 young individuals 
measuring from 1 inch to 1J inches were seined between August 
10 and September 9. Adults at that time were present in the 
bay, but they were scarce. The bottom was covered with algae 
and convenient hiding places were found under the sod banks. 

The fish is very unusual in Gravesend bay, Long Island. A 
large individual, weighing 13 pound's, was caught September 16. 
1897, at Coney Island. That example proved hardy in captivity 
and the sheepshead generally can be easily kept if the water 
temperature be properly maintained. 

The sheepshead was at one time common in Great South bay. 
For this statement we have the authority of Mr Erastus Gordon, 
of Patchogue, and the following account from Dr MitchilFs 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 565 

Fishes of New York will substantiate the fact : " The sheepshead 
swims in shoals and is sometimes surrounded in great numbers 
by the seine. Several hundreds have often been taken at a sin- 
gle haul with the long sweeping-nets in use at Kaynortown, 
Babylon and Fire Island. They even tell of a thousand brought 
to land at a draught. . . This fish is sometimes speared by torch- 
light in the wide and shallow bays of Queens county and Suffolk. 
His term of continuance is only during the warmest season; 
that is, from the beginning of June to the middle of September. 
... I have, however, known him to stay later; for one of the 
most numerous collections of sheepshead I ever saw in the New 
York market was on October 4, 1814; I have seen them as late 
as the 17th." 

Scott, in 1875, referred to Fire Island as a good locality for 
sheepshead fishing, and also mentions superior feeding places 
in the South bay and about the wreck of the Black Warrior, 
near the Narrows. 

We did not obtain the sheepshead in Great South bay, and 
believe it occurs there very rarely at the present time, though 
fishermen still seek them in a few localities and, I am informed, 
occasionally catch one. Dr Smith says not one has been seen 
or heard of in Vineyard sound or Buzzards bay since 1894; but 
formerly it was quite common and was often caught while line- 
fishing for tautog and scup. 

Family gerridae 

Mojarras 

Genus eucinostomus Baird & Girard 

Interhaemal bone of the second anal spine greatly modified, 

expanded into a hollow cylinder, into which the posterior end 

of the air bladder enters. Preopercle and preorbital entire; 

body comparatively elongate, subelliptic in form; anal spines 

three; the second anal spine and fourth dorsal spine not greatly 

enlarged. Species numerous in warm seas, remarkable for the 

structure of the second interhaemal, which is formed somewhat 

as in Calamus, but much more modified than in the latter 

genus. 



566 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

270 Eucinostomus gula (Cuv. & Val.) 
Mojarra de Ley; Silver Jenny, 

Gerres gula Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VI, 464, 1830, 

Martinique; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. I, 346, 1859. 
Eucinostomus argenteus Baird & Girard, 9th Smithson. Rep. 345, 1855, 

Beesley's Point, N. J. 
Gerres argenteus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 584, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. G. VII, 138, 1888, Great Egg Harbor Bay, N. J. 
Eucinostomus gula Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1370, 

1898; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. 1897, 101, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. 

Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 106, 19O0. 

Body elliptic, compressed, back moderately elevated, the 
greatest depth contained two and two fifths times in total length 
without caudal. Head short, pointed, its length three tenths 
of total without caudal; mouth small, the maxillary reaching 
slightly past the Vertical from the front of orbit; exposed por- 
tion of maxillary nearly oblong, its length twice its width, and 
equal to one fourth or one fifth the length of the head; pre- 
orbital and preopercle entire; snout two sevenths and interor- 
bital width one third length of head; eye one third length of 
head. Gill rakers small and weak, seven below the angle of 
first arch; premaxillary groove scaly in front, posterior part 
naked forming a sort of pit. Longest dorsal spine two 
thirds as long as head. Second anal spine shorter and stronger 
than third, about three tenths as long as the head. Ventrals 
reach nearly to vent, five sevenths as long as head. Pectorals 
reach front of anal, and equal one third of total length without 
caudal. Second interhaemal hollow and enlarged. 

D. IX, 10; A. Ill, 8; scales 5-42 to 45-9; vertebrae 9+15. 

Color silvery, greenish, darker above; no distinct longitudinal 
lines except in very young; upper margin of spinous dorsal more 
or less black; dorsal and anal fins dusky; other fins pale. 

The silver jenny occurs from Cape Cod to Brazil and the West 
Indies; only the young come far north in summer. The species 
reaches a length of 5 inches and is used for bait. 

At Woods Hole Mass., writes Dr Smith, the species is usually 
very uncommon. In 1897 five specimens were taken at one 
seine haul in Quisset harbor on August 14; two in the same 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 567 

locality September 7, and one in Eel Pond on September 23; 
all of these were 1 to 2 inches long. On October 5 the fish was 
abundant in Quisset harbor. 

Young fish of this species were obtained in abundance at Bees- 
ley's Point, Somers Point, and Ocean City N. J. in August 1887. 
No adults were seen. 

The only individual observed in Great South bay was a very 

small one, seined in Clam Pond cove, Aug. 22, 1898. Diligent 

search was made for the species in 1901, but no specimens were 

taken. 

Family kyphosidae 

Rudder fishes , 
Genus kyphosus Lacepede 
Body elongate-ovate, regularly elliptic, moderately com- 
pressed; head short, with blunt snout; eye large; mouth small, 
horizontal; maxillary barely reaching front of eye; each jaw 
with a single series of rather narrow obtusely lanceolate 
incisors, implanted with compressed conspicuous roots poste- 
riorly; behind these a narrow band of villiform teeth; fine teeth 
on vomer, palatines, and tongue. Branchiostegals seven; gill 
rakers long. Preopercle obtusely serrate; preorbital narrow, 
covering but little of the maxillary. Squamation very com- 
plete, the space between and about the eyes being the only naked 
part; scales smallish, thick, ctenoid, 60 to 70 in the lateral line, 
which is continuous; similar scales entirely covering the soft 
parts of the vertical fins, and extending upon the paired fins. 
Dorsal fin low, with about 11 spines, which are depressible in 
a groove of scales, the fin continuous, but the last spines low, 
so that a depression occurs between the two parts of the fin, 
the bases of the spinous and soft parts about equal; soft dorsal 
rather low in front, not falcate, pointed behind; anal similar 
to soft dorsal, with three spines; caudal fin moderately forked; 
pectoral fins small, ventrals well behind them. Intestinal canal 
long; pyloric caeca very numerous. Vertebrae 9 or 10+15 or 
16 = 25. 



568 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

277 Kyphasus sectatrix (Linnaeus) 
Bermuda Chub 

Perca sectatrix Linnaeus. Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 486, 1766. 

Pimelepterus boscii Ouviek & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VII, 258, 
pi. 187, 1831; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 100, pi. XX, fig. 56, 1842, 
copied from Cuv. & Val.; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 561, 1883. 

Kyphosus sectatrix Jordan & Fesler, Rept. U. S. F. 0. 1880 to 1891, 525, 
1893; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 366, 1897; H. M. Smith, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 101, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. 1387, 1898, pi. OCXIX, fig. 559, 1900. 

Body ovate-elliptic, somewhat compressed, its greatest hight 
two fifths of the total length without caudal; the least depth of 
caudal peduncle nearly^one half length of head. Head short, 
one fourth of total length without caudal; snout short; mouth 
small, the maxillary reaching to below front of orbit; teeth 
35 to 40 on each side, their horizontal process not much longer 
than the vertical; width of interorbital space two fifths length 
of head; eye equal to snout, and more than one fourth length 
of head; top and sides of head finely scaled; interorbital region 
gibbous; preopercle serrulate; gill rakers long. Longest dor- 
sal spine equals snout and is nearly one fifth depth of body; 
longest ray of soft dorsal two sevenths as long as the head. 
The second anal spine is about two thirds as long as the eye; 
the longest anal ray is one third as long as the head. Caudal 
deeply forked, the middle rays about one half as long as the 
outer, which are nearly as long as the head. Pectoral two 
thirds as long as the head, and equal to ventral, which reaches 
to below the ninth spine of the dorsal. Soft dorsal and anal 
closely scaled; most of caudal scaly. 

D. XII, 12; A. Ill, 11; V. I, 5; P. i, 16; scales 10-66-16; ver- 
tebrae 9+16. 

Color in life dusky or steel gray, very slightly bluish, not much 
paler below; the edges of each row of scales on back and sides 
slightly brassy so that very faint yellowish stripes alternate 
with bluish ones of about equal width; the stripes thus formed 
vary from 25 to 34 in number. A diffuse pale stripe below the 
eye; a yellowish one above and below this; fins all dull grayish; 
ventrals and anal blackish; edge of opercle slightly darker. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 569 

The Bermuda chub grows to the length of 18 inches. It ranges 
from Cape Cod to the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico, across 
the ocean to the Canary Islands, and is accidental in the Med- 
iterranean. Its name of rudder fish refers to its habit of fol- 
lowing vessels, presumably to secure the waste food thrown 
from them. The fish is said to have game qualities. 

At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, the species is 
not rare in summer and fall and has occasionally been found 
in April; it is sometimes taken among gulf weed at the surface. 
Only young specimens, up to 6 inches long, have been secured 
there. 

The Bermuda chub is a rare fish in Gravesend bay, but was 
found there in October 1896, and in September 1897. It has great 
endurance in captivity and will survive the winter in artificially 
heated water. 

Family sciaexidae 

Croakers 
Genus cvxosciox Gill 
Body elongate, little compressed, the back not elevated. Head 
conical, rather pointed; mouth very large, terminal, not very 
oblique, the lower jaw projecting, the symphysis produced, the 
angle at base of maxillary not prominent. Maxillary very 
broad. Teeth sharp, not clcsely set, in rather narrow bands; 
tip of the lower jaw without canines; upper jaw with two long 
canines, one of which is sometimes obsolete; canines tapering 
from base to tip; lateral teeth of lower jaw larger than anterior. 
Preopercle with its membranaceous edge serrulate, the bone 
entire. Lower pharyngeal bones separate, their teeth all 
pointed. Gill rakers strong, rather long. Vertebrae about 
11-10 (instead of 10+14 as in sciaenoids generally). Pseudo- 
branchiae well developed; dorsal spines slender, the fins closely 
contiguous; anal spines one or two, very feeble, the soft rays 
seven to 13; second dorsal long and low, more than twice length 
of anal; ventrals inserted below pectorals, the pubic bone long 
and strong; caudal fin subtruncate or lunate. Large fishes 
chiefly of the waters of America, closely related to the Old 
World genus O t o 1 i t h u s , from which they are distinguished 



570 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

by the absence of canines in the lower jaw. All of them rank 
high as food fishes; the flesh is rich, but in some species tender 
and easily torn, hence the popular name weakfishes. 

Subgenus cynoscion 

278 Cynoscion regalis (Bloch & Schneider) 

Weakfish; Squeteague 

Johnlus regal Is Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 75, 1801, New York. 

Roccus Comes Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 26, 1814, New York. 

Labnts squeteague Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 396, pi. 2, 

fig. 6, 1815, New York. 
Otolith us regal is Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 67, 1830; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 71, pi. 8, fig;. 24, 1842; Gunther, Cat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 307, 1860. 
Cynoscion regale Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 18, 1862; Jordan & Gil- 

rert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 581, 1883; Bean, Bull. IT. S'. F. C. 

VII, 140, pi. II, fig. 6, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 257, pi. XIII, 

fig. 15, 1890. 
Cynoscion regalis Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 17, 1879, Cape 

Ann; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 367, 1897; Jordan & Ever- 

mann, Bull. 47, XI. S. Nat. Mus. 1407, 1898, pi. OCXX, fig. 562. 1900; 
H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 101, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. 

N. Y. State Mus. 106, 1900; Sherwood & Edwards, Bull. IT. S. F. C. 

1901, 29, 1901. 

Body elongate, little compressed, its greatest depth contained 
four and one fourth times in the total length without caudal; 
the least depth of caudal peduncle one third length of head, 
which is three tenths of total length without caudal. Eye 
moderate, three fourths length of snout, and one fifth to one 
seventh length of head. Maxillary reaching to below hind mar- 
gin of eye, its length nearly two fifths length of head. Teeth 
sharp, in narrow bands; canines large. Gill rakers long and 
sharp, 5 aboye and 11 below the angle of the first arch. The 
second and longest dorsal spine is two fifths as long as the head; 
the first spine is one third as long as the head; the last two 
spines are very short; the longest soft ray of the dorsal is one 
third as long as the head. Caudal lunate behind, the longest 
rays equal to the head without the snout. The anal base is as 
long as the snout and eye combined; the longest ray slightly 
exceeds the base of the fin. Pectoral about equal to postorbital 
part of head and about one sixth of total length without caudal. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 571 

Ventral about one half as long as the head, reaching* to below 
the seventh spine of the dorsal. 

D. X, I; 26 to 29; A. I, 11 to 13; scales 8-78-17, about 66 pores 
in lateral line. 

Silvery, darker above and marked with many small, irregular 
dark blotches, some of which form undulating lines running 
downward and forward; back and head with bright reflections; 
dorsal and caudal fins dusky; ventrals, anal, and lower edge of 
caudal yellowish, sometimes speckled. The young show traces 
of a few dusky bands on the sides, one under the spinous dorsal 
being most plainly marked, and extending to below the median 
line. 

The weakfish, so called in Dr Mitchill's Fishes of New York, 
appears also in his report as the squeteague and checouts, the 
former being a Narragansett Indian name and the latter derived 
from the Mohegans. The Narragansett name is sometimes 
spelled scuteeg. Chickwick is the Connecticut name for the 
species; on Cape Cod, because of the sound produced by the 
fish, it is called the drummer; large weakfish in Buzzards bay 
are termed yellow fins. In Great Egg Harbor bay the name blue- 
fish is applied to it, notwithstanding the presence of the real 
bluefish (Pomatomus), On our southern coast we hear the 
names trout, with its variations gray trout, sea trout, shad 
trout, sun trout and salt-water trout. The latter name is used 
to distinguish it from the fresh-water trout of the southern 
states, which is the black bass. Dr Mitchill thus accounts for 
the name weakfish: " He is called weakfish, as some say, be- 
cause he does not pull very hard after he is hooked; or, as others 
allege, because laboring men who are fed upon him are weak by 
reason of the deficient nourishment in that kind of food." De 
Kay explains the name from the feeble resistance the fish makes 
on the hook and the facility with which it breaks away from it 
by reason of its delicate structure. At the time of De Kay's 
writing in 1842. and for some years previously, the weakfish 
was present on our coast in diminished numbers. The blue- 
fish was then present in abundance and the disappearance of the 



572 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

weakfish was supposed to be connected with the reappearance- 
of the bluefish. A similar observation was made by Dr Storer 
on the Massachusetts coast. Again, at Woods Hole Mass. in 
1900, the weakfish was remarkably abundant, the traps at Men- 
emsha having taken 10,000 in a single day; the bluefish, on the 
other hand, was unusually scarce during the entire season, not 
over 50 having been recorded from the adjacent bay and sound. 

The weakfish ranges from the Bay of Fundy to the east coast 
of Florida. It fluctuates in abundance from year to year. The 
late Capt. N. E. Atwood is authority for the statement that in 
1845 the weekly supply in the New York markets was not above 
1000 pounds. 

The species feeds in the channels upon shrimp, crabs and 
small fish. In Great South bay we found them eating large 
quantities of anchovies, and the same observation was made in 
one of the inlets of Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J. The fish enters- 
the mouths of rivers and migrates freely with the tide. 

The species swims in large schools near the surface and i& 
very voracious, destroying the young even of its own kind. A 
specimen of about 4 pounds, taken at Islip October 1, 1890, had 
in its stomach a weakfish weighing about 6 ounces. Fish of 
4 pounds and a little larger were moderately abundant at this- 
date. 

Weakfish spawn in New York waters in May, and at Cape 
Cod about the first of June. The egg is x inch in diameter and 
hatches in two days at an average temperature of 60° F. It i» 
buoyant and, under natural conditions, is subject to the influ- 
ence of wind and current. The spawning season is evidently 
prolonged in some localities; in Great Egg Harbor bay, for 
example, young weakfish only 1-J inches long were taken in Au- 
gust, that is, several months after spawning began. 

The earliest arrival in New York was on May 12, 1889, at 
Great Hills, Gifford, Staten Island. During the latter part of 
August 1889, the west channel of Great South bay furnished 
great numbers of weakfish. The young were found in Blue 
Point cove late in September; also some half grown individuals. 



PISHES OF NEW YORK . 573 

The fish are in their finest condition during the fall migration 
in September and October. On September 21, 1887, two men 
caught 200, including some very large ones, on a single tide near 
the inlet of Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J. The most favorable 
tide for catching this species is generally considered the latter 
half of the flood and first half of the ebb. At night the weak- 
fish runs up the creeks to feed in the salt meadows and will take 
the hook freely. 

Some of the best baits for the weakfish are the common 
shrimp, soft or shedder crabs, pieces of clam and common mus- 
sel, the white skin of the throat of weakfish, and sometimes 
the eye of this species; other good baits are silversides and 
anchovies. In Great South bay the fish are taken extensively 
in pound nets and gill nets. The gill nets are set in the shape 
of a horseshoe, and the attending sloop sails back and forth 
across the open end of the horseshoe, one of the crew mean- 
while beating the deck with his heels to frighten the fish into 
the nets. This method, called drumming, is in great disfavor 
among those who follow other modes of fishing. 

In 1901, young weakfish were seldom taken in Great South 
bay and only two localities — Duncan's creek and Smith's Point 
— furnished them in very small numbers. Adult fish, however, 
were remarkably abundant and were caught in many parts of 
the bay. 

The weakfish endures captivity very well and can be kept 
during winter in water of the proper temperature. The species 
is said to reach the weight of 30 pounds. 

279 Cynoscion nebulosus (Cuv. & Val.) 
Spotted Weakfish; Sea Trout 

Labrus sqaeteague var. maculatus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. 

I, 396, 1815, New York; not Labrus maculatus Bloch. 
Otolitluis nebulosus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 79, 1830. 
Otolithus carolinensis Ouviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IX, 475. 

1833, South Carolina; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 72, 1842, extra - 

limital; Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 133, pi. 19, fig. 2, 1856; Guntheb, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 306, 1860, New York. 
Cynoscion maculatum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U.S. Nat. Mus. 581, 

1883. 



T)74 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Cytiosdon nebulosus Jordan & Evebmann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1409, 
1898, pi. CCXXI, fig. 563, 1900. 

Body elongate, compressed, its greatest depth two ninths of 
the total length without caudal; the least depth of caudal pedun- 
cle one half postorbital length of head. Head long, two sevenths 
of total length without caudal ; snout long and acute, about two 
sevenths as long as the head; eye small, about one seventh as 
long as head; maxillary reaching to below hind margin of orbit, 
as long as snout and eye combined; canines strong; lower 
pharyngeals narrow, each with seven or eight series of short 
teeth, the inner enlarged; gill rakers short and thick, about 
4+7 on first arch; maxillary, preorbital, and lower jaw naked. 
Spinous dorsal base as long as postorbital part of head; 
tirst dorsal spine one half as long as second, which is one third 
length of head; third and longest spine nearly- one half as long 
as head: spines decreasing rapidly in length from the fifth to 
the last, which is minute; soft dorsal base one third of total 
length without caudal; the longest soft ray one third length of 
base. Caudal shallow concave, the middle rays one half as long 
as the head. Anal base short, one third as long as the head; 
longest anal ray one half depth of body. Pectoral short, reach- 
ing to below sixth spine of dorsal. Ventral longer than pec- 
toral, one sixth of total without caudal, reaching to below end 
of spinous dorsal. Ventral appendage nearly as long as the 
eye. D. X, I, 24 to 28; A. I, 10 to 12; V. I, 5; P. I, 15; pores in 
lateral line about 90. 

Body silvery with bright reflections; numerous black spots on 
back, beginning under the spinous dorsal; soft dorsal and caudal 
similarly spotted, the largest spots smaller than pupil; anal fin 
dusky. 

The spotted weakfish is a better food fish than the common 
northern species ; it ranges from New York to Texas, but is rare 
north of Virginia. 

Genus larimis Cuvier & Valenciennes 
Body rather elongate, compressed; skull firm, not greatly 
•cavernous; interorbital space rather narrow; preorbital flatfish, 
not turgid; upr>er jaw with the usual slits and pores little de- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 0<Q 

veloped; no barbels: 110 canines; snout very short; mouth large, 
terminal, very oblique or even vertical, the lower jaw project- 
ing: teeth minute, equal, uniserial or partly biserial above; 
preopercle entire or nearly so. without bony teeth. Scales 
moderate, subequal. Pseudobranchiae well developed. Fins 
essentially as in B a i r d i e 1 1 a . the second dorsal long, the 
anal short, its spines moderate or small; fins not thickened by 
accessory scales. Gill rakers long and slender. Vertebrae 
10-14 = 24. Silvery fishes, all American. 

Subgenus larhiis 

280 Larimus fasciatus Holbrook 

Banded Larimus 

Larimus faciatus Holbeook, Ichth. S. C. 153. pi. 22. fig. 1. 1S56. Charleston; 
Gothee. Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II. 269. 1S60; Joedax & Gilbert.. 
Bull. 16. D. S. Nat. Mus. 578 ? 1S83; Joedax & Eigexmaxx. Rep. U. S. 
F. C. for 1886, 376. 18S9: Beax. Bull. Am. Mus. Xat, Hist. IX. 367. 
1897; H. M. Smith. Bull. U. 8. F. C. 1897, 101 ? 1898; Joedax & Etee- 
maxx. Bull. 47. F. S. Xat. Mus. 1424. 189S. 

Body oblong, compressed, ventral outline nearly straight, 
dorsal outline considerably arched; the depth of the body is 
contained about three times in the length. Snout very short, 
much less than diameter of the large eye; mouth large, very 
oblique, maxillary reaching to posterior margin of orbit; the 
length of the head is contained three and one half times in that 
of the body. Tip of mandible on level of lower part of pupil; 
second anal spine small; pectoral fin short; caudal subtruncate. 
D. X-I. 24; A. II. 6; Lat. 1. about 62. 

Silvery gray, clouded above; sides marked with about seven 
nearly vertical dusky bars, running from back to below the 
lateral line. South Atlantic coast and southward; rare. An 
individual was captured in Gravesend bay July 25. 1895. and 
another one August 2 of the same year. These fed freely, and 
were kept in a healthy condition till January 16. 1896, when the 
low temperature of the water killed them. The fish is not com- 
mon anywhere, and had not before been recorded north of 
Chesapeake bay. except a single example which was taken at 
Woods Hole Mass. on August 13, 1889; the specimen was caught 
in a trap at the breakwater. Buzzards bay. 



576 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Genus bairdiella Gill 
This genus is characterized by the oblique mouth, little 
cavernous skull, few rows of small teeth, slender gill rakers, and 
the preopercle armed with a plectroid spine. It is certainly a 
very natural group, and worthy of recognition as a distinct 
genus, though its relationships with Ophioscion and 
specially with Stellifer are very close. The numerous 
species are all American, all small in size and silvery in colora- 
tion, and some of them are remarkable for the great size of the 
second anal spine. In others this spine is quite small. These 
variations among species unquestionably closely allied show 
how slight is the systematic value to be attached to the size of 

this spine. 

Subgenus bairdiella 

281 Bairdiella chrysura (Lacep&de) 

Telloivtail; Silver Perch 

Dipterodon chrysnrus Lvacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 64, 1802, South 

Carolina. 
Bodianus argyroleucus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 417, pi. 6, 

fig. 9, 1815, New York. 
Corvina argyroleuca Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 105, 

1830; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 74, pi. 18, fig. 51, 1842, New York; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 299, 1860. 
Homoprion xanthurus Hoi/brook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 170, pi. 24, 1856 (not 

Leiostomus xantlmrus Lacepede). 
Sciaena punctata Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 570, 1883. 
Sciaena chrysura Jordan & Gilbert, op. eit. 933, 1883. 
Bairdiella chrysura Goode, Fish. & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 375, pi. 126, 1884; 

Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 141, pi. I, fig. 9, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. 

Fish. N. Y. 259, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 367, 1897; Jordan 

& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 1433, 1888, pi. CCXXII, fig. 

566, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 106, 1900. 

Body oblong, compressed, rather robust, its greatest depth 
one third of total length without caudal; least depth of caudal 
peduncle one eighth of total without caudal. Head compressed, 
conical, not depressed nor broadened, its length three tenths of 
total without caudal; eye equal to snout and about one fourth 
length of head; interorbital region depressed, transversely con- 
vex, narrower than the eye; mouth rather large, somewhat 
oblique, jaws about equal in front, maxillary long, reaching 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 577 

nearly to below hind margin of orbit, its width posteriorly 
nearly one third of its length; both jaws with stout recurved 
teeth, behind which, in the upper jaw, are a few series of smaller 
teeth; mandibulary teeth mostly in one series outside of which 
are a few smaller teeth; preopercle strongly serrate or spinous 
at its angle; gill rakers slender, moderately long, 8+16 
on first arch; lower pharyngeals small, with sharp teeth. Spin- 
ous dorsal high in front, triangular, the first spine very short, 
the fourth longest, equal to postorbital part of head; base of 
soft dorsal one third of total length without caudal, longest ray 
equal to snout and eye combined, last ray two thirds as long 
as the eye. Caudal concavo-convex, the middle rays equal to 
longest dorsal spine. Anal base three eighths as long as the 
head; longest anal ray equal to snout and eye combined; first 
anal spine very short, second two fifths as long as the head. 
Soft dorsal and anal fins considerably scaly. Pectoral and 
ventral of equal length, one fifth of total without caudal, the 
pectoral scarcely reaching to below end of spinous dorsal. D. 
XI, I, 22; A. II, 9 or 10; scales 8-50 to 54-11. 

Greenish above, silvery below, each scale with series of dark 
punctulations through the center, usually very conspicuous, 
sometimes obscure, these forming narrow somewhat irregular 
streaks along the sides; fins plain, the caudal yellowish. 

Dr Mitchill describes this fish as the silver perch, and De Kay 
explains the origin of this name from the resemblance which the 
yellowtail bears in its appearance and habits to the common 
white perch. At Pensacola Fla. the name mademoiselle is 
applied to the species. In Great South bay we heard the name 
lafayette given it, but this belongs more properly to the spot 
Liostomus xanthurus. 

The yellowtail occurs on our coast from Cape Cod to Florida. 
It was a common fish in Great South bay in September 1890, 
and during the early part of October, occurring at Blue Point 
cove, at the Blue Point Lifesaving station, Great River beach 
and Fire Island. It is frequently taken in the pounds. In 1898, 
the young were found in abundance at Nichols's Point, Great 



578 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

South bay, September 1. In 1901, the species was not observed 
at all during a season extending' from the middle of July to the 
middle of October. 

The breeding season must continue into early summer as 
many young fish, from 1 inch to 2J inches long, were obtained in 
Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J. early in August, 

The young of the silver perch are found every summer in 
Gravesend bay, and adults are to be seen occasionally. On Sep- 
tember 8, 1896, Mr De Nyse took an example 1J inches long with 
a shrimp net in eelgrass back of the flats at extreme low tide. 
Pools containing 2 feet of water are common here, and many 
species of fish become imprisoned in them. In August Mr W. I. 
De Nyse has captured a half dozen adult Hippocampus 
in such localities. On October 5, 1896, and again in the fall uf 
1897, the silver perch was obtained in the bay. 

The species seldom exceeds 10 inches in length, but is regarded 
as an excellent panfish, and is secured in enormous numbers. 

Genus sciaenops Gill 
This genus is close to Ophioscion, from which it differs 
in the loss of its preopercular armature with age, the serrate 
edge of the bone becoming entire. The caudal fin is truncate 
or concave, the soft dorsal scaleless; the slits and pores of the 
upper jaw are well developed and the single species reaches a 
very large size. The group is not well separated from Ophios- 
cion on the one hand, or from S c i a e n a on the other, but 
its retention seems to be convenient. 

282 Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus) 

Red Drum,; Channel Bass 

Perca ocellata Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 483, 1766, South Carolina. 
Sciaena imoerois Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 411, 1815, 

New York. 
Corvina ocellata Cuvier & "Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 134, pi. 108, 

1830; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 75, pi. 21, fig. 61, 1842, New York; 

Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 149, pi. 21, fig. 2, 1856. 
Jolniius ocellatus Girard, U. S. Mex. Bd. Surv. 14, pi. 8, figs. 1-4, 1859. 
Sciaena ocellata Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 289, 1860, America; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 571, 1883. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 579' 

Sciaenops ocellatus Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 367, 1897, New 
Jersey; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 101, 1898; Jordan & 
Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1453, 1898, pi. CCXXII, fig. 567^ 
• 1900. 

Body elongate, robust, its greatest depth one fourth of total 
length without caudal, least depth of caudal peduncle about one 
third of greatest depth; back somewhat arched; profile of head 
convex. Head rather long, three tenths of total length without 
caudal; eye small, about one seventh as long as the head; snout 
obtuse, two ninths as long as the head. Mouth large, nearly 
horizontal, the lower jaw rather shorter than the upper; the 
maxillary reaching to below the hind border of the orbit, its 
length more than two fifths length of head; bands of villiform 
teeth in both jaws, the outer teeth of the upper jaw much en- 
larged; lower jaw with subequal teeth. Preopercle strongly 
serrate on its bony margin in the young, entire in large indivi- 
duals and with the edge of the bone covered by skin. Gill rakers 
5+7 on first arch, shorter than the diameter of the pupil. Spin- 
ous dorsal triangular, the first spine minute, the fourth, and 
longest, four ninths as long as the head, the last two thirds as 
long as the eye; base of soft dorsal twice as long as that of 
spinous dorsal, the longest ray one third as long as the head. 
Anal base short, one third as long as the head, two thirds as 
long as longest anal ray; the end of the anal base is under the 
17th ray of soft dorsal, second anal spine about three eighths 
as long as the head; caudal nearly truncate, the middle rays one 
half as long as the head. Pectoral equals postorbital part of 
head, the fin extending to below the end of spinous dorsal. 
Ventral equal to pectoral, and not reaching nearly to vent. 
Scales of the breast embedded, cycloid; no scales on soft dorsal 
except in a very narrow strip at its base. D. X, I, 24 to 25; A. 
II, 8; scales 4-45 to 55-10 to 12. Color grayish silvery, irides- 
cent; often washed with coppery red; each scale with a center of 
dark points forming obscure undulating stripes along the rows 
of scales; a jet black ocellated spot about as large as the eye 
at base of caudal above; sometimes two or more such spots are 
present; the body occasionally covered with ocelli. 

The red drum is one of the largest of the food fishes of the 
southern waters, reaching the length of 5 feet and the weight 



5S0 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM • 

of 75 pounds. It inhabits the Atlantic coast from New York 
to Texas, and has once been taken near Cape Cod. 

A red drum, or spotted bass, weighing 14 pounds, was ob- 
tained by Mr E. G. Blackford from New Jersey, and was pur- 
chased alive for the New York aquarium. At the time of writ- 
ing (December 11, 1897) it is in the central pool, and is, appar- 
ently, in perfect health. It swims sometimes immediately under 
the sand shark. Its food consists of large pieces of herring, 
which it takes readily. 

The only specimen known to have been taken at Cape Cod was 
caught in a trap in Buzzards bay at the breakwater in 1394. 
The example is 34 inches long and weighs about 14 pounds. On 
account of the ocellated markings at the base of the caudal fin 
it has sometimes been called the branded drum. 

Genus leiostomus Lacep&de 
Body oblong, ovate, the back compressed; head obtuse; mouth 
small, horizontal, the upper jaw with a band of feeble teeth, 
the lower nearly or quite toothless; slits and pores of upper 
jaw well developed; lower pharyngeals separate, the teeth 
paved; preopercle with a membranaceous border; dorsal spines 
10, slender, rather high, the last connected with the soft rays; 
soft dorsal and anal long; anal spines two, the second not large; 
caudal fin emarginate; gill membranes slightly connected; gill 
rakers slender. This genus is distinguished from S c i a e n a 
chiefly by the obsolescence of the teeth in the lower jaw, and 
by the more paved teeth of the pharyngeals. The soft rays of 
the dorsal fin and specially of the anal are more numerous than 
in related groups. One species. 

283 Leiostomus xanthurus Laeepede 

Spot; Lafayette 

Leiostomus xanthurus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 439, pi. 10, fig. 1, 
1802, Carolina; Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 142, 
1830; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 70, 1842, extralimital; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 574, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. 
VII, 141, 1888; 9th Rep. Oomm. Fish. N. Y. 260, 1890; Bull. Am. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 367, 1897; Eugene Smith, Proc. Linn, Soc. N. Y. 
1897, 39, 1898; Mearns, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 321, 1898; H. M. 
Smith, Bull. U. S. F. O. 1897, 101, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 
47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1458, 1898, pi. COXXIII, fig. 569, 1900. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 581 

Mugil obliquiis Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 16, 1814, New York; Trans. 

Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 405, 1815, New York. 
Jjeiostomus ohliqnus De Kay, N. Y'. Fauna, Fishes, 69, pi. 60, fig. 195, 1842. 
Sciaena dbliqua Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 288, 1860. 
•Sciaena xanthurus Gunthek, op. cit. 288, 1860. 

Body short, deep, compressed, its greatest depth one third, 
or more than one third, of the total length without the caudal; 
least depth of caudal peduncle three sevenths length of head; 
oack in front of dorsal compressed to a sharp edge; profile steep, 
convex, depressed over the eyes; dorsal outline convex, highest 
^at dorsal origin. Head short, its length contained three and 
•one third to three and two thirds times in the total without 
caudal; snout short and very blunt, about two sevenths as long 
as the head and slightly longer than the eye. Mouth small, 
inferior, horizontal; maxillary rather more than one third length 
•of head, extending to below middle of pupil; lower jaw tooth- 
less in the adult, upper jaw with a series of narrow minute 
teeth; gill rakers short, slender, 8+22 on the first arch; 
lower pharyngeals small, with three series of molars poster- 
iorly and many villiform teeth anteriorly; preopercle entire; 
preorbital about equal to eye in width. Spinous dorsal trian- 
gular, but rounded at tip, the first spine very slender and very 
closely attached to the second, the third and fourth longest, 
three fifths as long as the head, the last two spines very short, 
only about as long as the pupil. Soft dorsal long and low, the 
base twice as long as that of spinous dorsal, the longest ray 
three eighths as long as the head. Caudal forked, the middle 
rays one half as long as the head. Anal elevated in front, low 
"behind, the longest ray more than one half as long as the head, 
the last shorter than the eye; the second anal spine as long 
as the eye; the first spine very small. Pectoral large, extend- 
ing to below the sixth ray of second dorsal, nearly as long as 
the head. Ventral as Jong as the head without snout, not 
reaching nearly to vent. Scales small, ctenoid, extending on 
caudal and base of pectorals, but not on other fins; soft dorsal, 
however, has a sheath at base formed by a single series of 
scales; scales below lateral line in oblique series. Lateral line 
little curved anteriorlv. 



582 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

D. X, I, 30 to 32; A. II, 12; P. I, 17; scales 9-60 to 70-12 to 14. 

Color bluish above, silvery below; about 13 to 15 narrow dark 
lines extending from the dorsal fins downward and forward to 
below the lateral line; a roundish black humeral spot about two 
thirds as long as the eye; fins plain olivaceous. 

This little fish was formerly known on the New York coast as 
lafayette. Mitchill calls it the little porgee. According to.De 
Kay its appearance on the New York coast in the summer of 
1824 happened to coincide with the arrival of General Lafayette 
and his name was bestowed upon the species. The name spot 
is derived from the presence of a dark blotch about as big as the 
eye near the root of the pectoral fin. Other names for the 
species are goody, oldwife, roach and chub. 

The spot is found from Cape Cod to Florida and is sometimes 
abundant as far north as New York. In Great South bay 
several specimens were taken early in October in Great river. 
A single example was seen among some fishes taken in a pound- 
net in Islip, Oct. 1, 1890. In 1898 the species was not obtained 
by the writer, and in 1901 only a few specimens, mostly adults, 
were secured at Quantic bay, Duncan's creek, and Widow's 
creek. 

Eather common in Gravesend bay from July to as late as 
December, and is well adapted to captive life. It is most abund- 
ant usually in September. 

Dr Mearns states that the fish, locally known as the sand 
porgee, is of frequent occurrence in summer in the Hudson river 
and its estuaries. H. M. Smith records it as common in the fall 
in the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. leaving in October or 
November, when the water temperature reaches 45° F. All the 
specimens observed there were about 6 inches long. 

It is a small fish, seldom exceeding 10 inches in- length, but 
is one of the favorites among the panfishes. The spot feeds 
on the bottom on small invertebrates, and can be taken readily 
with hook and line. In Great South bay it is caught in seines 
and pound nets. It ascends creeks into brackish water and is 
a common associate of the white perch. In Great Egg Harbor 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 583 

bay it is extremely common in summer and is sometimes known 
as porgee. 

Genus micropogox Cuvier & Valenciennes 
Body moderately elongate, compressed, somewhat elevated; 
preopercle strongly serrate; teeth in villiform bands, the outer 
row in the upper jaw enlarged; lower jaw with a row of minute 
barbels on each side; gill rakers short, thickish; spinous dorsal 
rather short of 10 or 11 stoutish spines; second anal spine 
moderate; caudal fin double truncate; lower pharyngeals nar- 
row, distinct, with sharp, conical teeth; air bladder with long 
horns. A well marked genus, the species all American, allied to 
Ophioscion and Sciaenops, but distinguished by the 
presence of barbels; species all closely related, similar in form, 
size, and color. 

284 Micropogon undulatus (Linnaeus) 

Croaker 

Perca undulata Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 483, 1766, South Carolina. 
BoManus costatus Mitchell, Trans. I>it. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 417, 1815, 

New York. 
Micropogon lineatus Guvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 215, 

pi. 119, 1830, New York. 
Aiicropogon costatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 83, pi. 72, fig. 230, 1842. 
Micropogon undulatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 219, 

1830; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 84, 1*842, extralimital ; Holbrook, 

Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 145, pi. 21, fig. 1, 1856; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

Mus. II, 271, 1860, in part; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. 

Mus. 575, 1883; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 368, 1897; H. M. 

Smith, Bull. U, S. F. C. 1897, 101, 1898; Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 

47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1461, 1898, pi. CCXXIV, fig. 570, 1900. 

Body rather elongate, little compressed, its greatest hight 
■equal to length of head, and two sevenths of total length with- 
out caudal; caudal peduncle short, its least depth equal to 
snout, and about one third length of head. Head long, two 
sevenths of total length without caudal, the snout prominent, 
obtuse, nearly twice as long as the eye, which is one fifth as long 
.as the head. Mouth rather large, nearly horizontal, the maxil- 
lary reaching to below front of eye. Preopercle strongly ser- 
rate, the spines near angle diverging. Dorsal fins nearly sepa- 
rate, the spinous dorsal triangular, the first and last spines 



584 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

shorter than eye, the third and fourth longest, equal to snout 
and eye combined, the base of the fin as long as the ventraL 
Soft dorsal long and low, one fourth longer than head, the- 
longest ray one third as long as head. Caudal slightly produced 
in the middle, the middle rays one half as long as head. Anal 
base three eighths as long as head; the first spine minute, sec- 
ond spine one fourth as long as head, first ray about one half 
length of head, last ray two ninths as long as head. Pectoral 
long, reaching beyond origin of soft dorsal. Ventral one sixth 
of total length without caudal, not reaching nearly to vent^ 
Inter orbital width somewhat exceeds diameter of eye. 

D. X, I, 27 to 30; A. II, 8; V. I, 5; P. I, 16; scales 9-60-12;, 
pyloric caeca eight; gill rakers 7+16. 

Color grayish silvery, with bright reflections; sides and back 
with narrow, irregular, undulating lines of dots ; dorsal fins with* 
three lines of dots along base. 

The croaker inhabits the east coast of the United States^ 
ranging from Cape Cod to Texas; it is not very common north* 
of the Chesapeake. It grows to the length of 15 inches and 
is an important food fish. The fish was described by Mit chill 
but was unknown to De Kay from personal observation^ 
Though known in Gravesend bay, the species is a very uncommon? 
one there. The only specimen recorded at Woods Hole Mass. is- 
15 inches long; it was taken in a trap at the breakwater im 
Buzzards bay on Sep. 9, 1893. 

Genus menticirrhus Gill 

Body comparatively elongate, little compressed; head long,, 
subconic, the bluntish snout considerably projecting beyond the- 
mouth; mouth small, horizontal, both jaws with bands of villi- 
form teeth, the outer teeth in the upper jaw more or less en- 
larged; chin with a single stoutish barbel; preopercle with its- 
membranaceous edge serrulate; gill rakers short and tubercular 
or obsolete; dorsal spines high, slender, 10 or 11 in number (1& 
in Cirrimens); second dorsal long and low; caudal fin 
with the lower angle rounded, the upper sharp; anal fin with a 
single weak spine; no air bladder. Lower pharyngeals separate, 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 585 

the teeth varying from sharp to very obtuse. This genus is 
one of the most strongly marked in the family. It has been 
confounded by all European writers with U m b r i n a , with 
which it has not very much in common except the presence of 
the barbel at the chin. All the species are American, and all 
bottom fishes. The low, elongate body, the large pectorals, and 
the obsolete air bladder are all characters related to this pecul- 
iarity of habit. 

Subgenus menticirrhus Gill 

285 Menticirrhus saxatilis (Bloch & Schneider) 

Kingfish; Whiting; Sea Mink 

Johnius saxatilis Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 75, 1801, New York. 
Sciena nebulosa Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 408, pi. 3, fig. 5, 

1815. 
Umbrina alburnus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 78, pi. 7, fig. 20, 1842. 
Umbrina nebulosa Gdnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 275, 1860; Stoker, 

Hist. Fish. Mass. 46, pi. IX, fig. 4, 1867. 
Menticirrhus nebulosus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. IX, 17, 1879; 

Jordan & Gilrert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 577, 1883. 
Menticirrhus saxatilis Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 141, pis. II, III, figs. 

7 and 8, 1888; Jordan & Eigenmann, Rep. U. S. F. C. for 1886, 431, 

1889; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 259, pi. XII, fig. 16, 1890; 

Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 368, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. 

F. C. 1897, 101, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

1475, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 106, 1900. 

Body robust, elongate, its greatest depth about two ninths of 
total length without caudal; the least depth of caudal peduncle 
one third length of head. Head one fourth to two sevenths of 
total length without caudal; snout one fourth as long as the 
head; eye small, two thirds as long as snout. Mouth large, the 
maxillary reaching to below middle of eye. Outer teeth of upper 
jaw not much enlarged. Spinous dorsal elevated, the third spine 
longest, two thirds as long as the head, reaching slightly past 
origin of soft dorsal; first spine minute, last two spines very 
short. Base of soft dorsal one third of total length without 
caudal; the longest ray less than one third length of head. 
Caudal concave above, convex below, the middle rays about one 
half as long as the head. Anal base under the middle portion of 
the soft dorsal, its length about equal to least depth of caudal 
peduncle, the spine one third as long as the pectoral, the longest 



586 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

ray equal to snout and eye combined. Pectoral large, nearly as 
long as the head, reaching past origin of soft dorsal. Ventral 
one half as long as the head. Scales all ctenoid. D. X, I, 26 or 
27; A. I, 8; scales 7-53-14. 

Color dusky gray above, sometimes blackish, the back and 
sides with distinct dark oblique cross bands running downward 
and forward, the anterior one at the nape extending downward, 
meeting the second and thus forming a Y-shaped blotch on each 
side; a dark lateral streak bounding the pale color of the belly, 
most distinct posteriorly, and extending on lower lobe of caudal; 
inside of gill cavity scarcely dusky; pectorals dark. 

The kingfish, according to De Kay, was so named by the early 
English colonists because of its excellent flavor. The name hake 
is given to it in New Jersey and Delaware ; in the Chesapeake it 
is sometimes called black mullet; in North Carolina, the sea 
mink; in the south it is the whiting or Bermuda whiting; on the 
Connecticut coast it is known as the tomcod. 

The kingfish occurs northward to Cape Ann and south to the 
Gulf of Mexico. Large individuals are not common as far north 
as Cape Cod, but the young may be seen in moderate numbers in 
the summer months. They occur in abundance throughout Great 
South bay and near the inlet their number is increased. We have 
collected them at the mouth of Swan creek, in Blue Point cove, 
at the Blue Point Lifesaving station, Oak Island and Fire Island. 
An individual was obtained October 7, in the bay, and others 
were found during September. Adult kingfish used to be com- 
mon in Great South bay, but in 1884 they were rare, according 
to Mr Erastus Gordon, of Patchogue. In 1898 only one adult 
was taken by the writer and that was found in Clam Pond cove, 
August 26. Young were seined at Fire Island inlet, Nichols's 
Point, Howell's Point, Blue Point cove, and in Peconic bay. In 
1901, large kingfish were not uncommon in Great South bay, but 
the young were unusually rare, only two specimens measuring 
from 3 J to 4 inches having been obtained; these were seined at 
Duncan's creek, September 14. 

The kingfish was formerly abundant in Gravesend bay, but it 
seldom occurs there now. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 587 

The species evidently breeds at Woods Hole Mass. Dr Smith 

isays that adults full of spawn are common there in June and un- 
common after July 15. The young about an inch long appear in 

:the middle of July, and the young are numerous on sandy beaches 
during the summer and till early October, when they leave, 
having attained a length of 4 or 5 inches. Some of the young 

;are almost entirely black, while others of the same size taken at 
the same time show the color markings of the adults. The maxi- 
mum weight there is about 2 pounds. 

The species is a favorite in New York waters and well merits 
its reputation as a choice food fish. It takes the baited hook 
very readily. Hard clam, cut small, shedder crab, black mussels 
and various kinds of fish are good baits. It goes in schools and 

:associates with the weakfish. 

The name kingfish is said to have been given it in honor of 

rthe king by colonial New Yorkers, who esteemed the fish highly. 

Genus pogonias Lacep&de 
Body short and deep, the dorsal outline much elevated, the 
ventral nearly .straight. Mouth moderate, the upper jaw long- 
est; teeth small, in villiform bands, the outer not enlarged; lower 
pharyngeal bones large, fully united, armed with strong paved 
teeth; lower jaw with numerous barbels, each about one half as 
long as the eye; preoperculum entire, with a membranaceous 
edge. Dorsal fins slightly connected, the spines high and strong; 
caudal fin subtruncate; first anal spine short, the second exceed- 
ingly large, nearly as long as the soft rays; pectorals and ventrals 
long; gill rakers short and bluntish. Pseudobranchiae large. 
Marine species, reaching a very large size, among the largest of 
the Sciaenidae, two species known. 

286 Pogonias cromis (Linnaeus) 

Drum 

,Labrus cromis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat ed. XII, 479, 1766, Carolina. 
Pogonias fasciatus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. Ill, 137, 1802; Cuvier & 

Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 210, pi. 118. 1830; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna, Fishes, 81, pi. 14, fig. 40, 1842; Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 

II, 270, 1860. 
Mugil grunniens Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 16, 1814, New York. 
Mugil gigas Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 16, 1814, New York. 



588 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Labrus grunniens Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 405, 1815. 

Bciena fusca MItchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 409, 1815, New- 
York. 

Sciena gigas Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 413, 1815, New- 
York. 

Pogonias chromis Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. V, 206, 1830; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 80, 1842; Holbeook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 
112, pi. 16, fig. 2, 1856; Gunthee, Oat Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 270, 1860; 
Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat Mus. 568, 1883; Bean, 19th 
Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 261, pi. XIII, fig. 17, 1890. 

Pogonias cromis Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 368, 1897, Gravesend 
Bay; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 101, 1898; Joedan & Eveb- 
mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat Mus. 1482, 1898, pi. OCXXV, fig. 573, 1900. 

Body oblong, compressed, heavy forwards, its greatest depth 
two fifths to one third of total length without caudal; least 
hight of caudal peduncle one third length of head. Head large,, 
its length about two sevenths of total without caudal; snout 
short, strongly declivous, a very shallow depression over the 
eyes, nape much arched. Lower jaw slightly shorter in front 
than upper; maxillary reaching to below middle of eye. Teeth 
in broad bands, the outer series in maxillary scarcely enlarged; 
lower pharyngeals large, completely united, covered with many 
blunt molars and a small patch of conical teeth at the outer 
posterior corner. Gill rakers 4+12 on first arch, very short 
and slender. Spinous dorsal triangular, the fourth and fifth 
longest, two fifths as long as the head, the spines rapidly 
diminishing in size to the front and rear, the first one being 
minute; the base of spinous dorsal as long as the head without 
the snout. Soft dorsal lower than spinous, the longest rays one 
third as long as the head. Anal base short, under second half of 
soft dorsal, the first spine minute, the second about one third as 
long as the head, the longest ray twice as long as the last ray 
and one half as long as the head. Caudal truncate, the middle 
rays about one half as long as the head. Pectoral long, reaching 
to below the fourth ray of soft dorsal, as long as the head. Ven- 
tral equal to postorbital part of head, reaching to below the 
origin of soft dorsal. Scales on breast small, others large. D. 
X, I, 21 to 22; A. II, 5 to 6; P. I, 17; V. I, 5. Scales 7-47 to 52-11. 

Color grayish silvery, with five broad dark bars three of which 
extend upon the dorsal fins, these bars disappearing with age; 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 58&" 

usually no oblique dark streaks along rows of scales above ; fins 
dusky. 

Dr Mitchill describes the drum under the names, black drum 
and red drum. The black drum which he described weighed 34 
pounds. He had a specimen of 80 pounds, and states that he was 
credibly informed of one that weighed 101 pounds. The species,, 
according to Dr Mitchill, was taken abundantly during the sum* 
mer with line and net. The name drum, he says, is derived from 
the drumming noise made by the fish immediately after being 
taken out of water. " He swims in numerous shoals in the shal- 
low bays on the south side of Long Island, where fishermen dur- 
ing the warm season can find them almost like a flock of sheep; 
is a dull sort of fish." The red drum he considered merely a 
variety of the black drum. Dr De Kay says of the species, which 
he calls the big drum : " They are gregarious, and frequently 
taken in great numbers by the seine during the summer along the 
bays and inlets of Long Island." De Kay adopted a different 
specific name for the young of this species, and called it the 
banded drum. Other names for this stage given by De Kay are: 
grunter, grunts, young drum and young sheepshead. He saw 
the young in September, and states that it is found in New York 
waters also in October and November. The adults, according to 
De Kay, are a coarse food, but the young are considered a great 
delicacy. 

The drum is occasionally taken on our coast as far north as 
Cape Cod; southward it extends to the Gulf of Mexico. 

The drum is an occasional summer visitor in Gravesend bay. 
In the fall of 1896, 14 young individuals, 8 inches long, were 
brought from there alive to the aquarium, and lived till February 
10, 1897, when the low temperature of the water (38°) killed them. 
In the fall of 1897 none were seen in the bay. 

In the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. the drum is very rare.. 
Dr Smith records the first one as having been taken May l y 
1874, and it has been observed only three or four times since. 
The recent specimens have been caught in traps at Quisset 
Harbor, in the latter part Of September or early in October^ 



590 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

these specimens weighing each 4J or 5 pounds. The largest 
drum recorded was taken at St Augustine Fla. and weighed 146 
pounds. The large fish are not much valued for food, but small 
ones are said to be excellent. 

Genus aplodinotus Rafinesque 
Body oblong, the snout blunt, the back elevated and com- 
pressed; mouth rather small, low, horizontal, the lower jaw 
included; teeth in villiform bands, the outer above scarcely 
enlarged; no barbels; pseudobranchiae rather small; gill rakers 
short and blunt; lower pharyngeals very large, fully united, with 
coarse, blunt, paved teeth, as in Pogonias; preopercle 
slightly serrate; dorsal spines strong and high, with a close 
fitting scaly sheath at base, the two dorsals somewhat con- 
nected; second anal spine very strong; caudal double truncate; 
air bladder very large, simple, with no appendages; pylorio 
•caeca seven; vertebrae 10+14 — 24. Fresh waters of the United 
States; large, coarse fishes, feeding chiefly on Crustacea and 
mollusks. The genus is apparently allied to Pogonias, 
and both may be descended from allies of Roncador, which 
is intermediate between them and Sciaena. 

287 Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque 
Fresh-water Drum; White Per eh 

Aplodinotus grunniens Rafinesque, Jour, de Phys. Paris, 88, 1819, Ohio 
River; Bean, Fishes Penna. 135, pi. 35, fig. 73, 1893; Jordan & Ever- 
mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1484, 1898, pi. OOXXVI, fig. 574, 1900. 

Sciaena oscula Le Sueur, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 252, ph 13, 1822, Lake 
Ontario. 

Amblodon neglectus Girard, U. S. Mex. Bd. Surv. Fish. 12, pi. 5, figs. 6-10, 
1859. 

AmUodon grunniens Girard, U. S. Pae. R. R. Surv. Fish. 96, pi. 23, 1858. 

Eaploidonotus grunniens Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 104, 1861; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mils. 567, 1883. 

Corvina oscula De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 73, pi. 21, fig. 63, 1842, Lakes 
Erie & Ontario; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 297, 1860. 

The shape of the fresh-water drum is similar to that of the 
salt-water species, the body being moderately elongate, its 
greatest hight one third of its length without the caudal; the 
«ides are moderately compressed and the back very much so. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 591 

The least depth of the tail is less than one third of the depth of 
the body. The head is rather short, its length contained three 
and two thirds times in the total without caudal. The eye is 
about four fifths as long as the snout and one sixth length of 
head. Snout obtuse. The maxilla reaches to below the middle 
of the eye; the lower jaw is shorter than the upper. The pec- 
toral is nearly as long as the head and reaches to below the 
beginning of the soft dorsal. The ventral is about two thirds 
length of head. The third dorsal spine is the longest, nearly 
one half as long as the head. The second anal spine is much 
the longer and stouter, its length two fifths that of head. The 
rays of the soft dorsal are longest near the end of the fin. The 
scales are very irregularly placed, about 55 in the lateral line. 

D. IX, I, 30-31; A. II, 7. 

The color is grayish, darker on the back; lower parts silvery. 
Young specimens have dark spots along the rows of scales, form- 
ing oblique lines. 

The fresh-water drum has received a great number of common 
names. In the Ohio valley and South it is known as the white 
perch; in the Great Lake region it is called sheepshead or fresh- 
water drum on account of its resemblance to the salt-water 
drum. At Buffalo and Barcelona, New York, it is known as 
sheepshead. The name crocus, used on lakes of northern In- 
diana is a corruption of croaker, a name of a marine fish of the 
same family. In the southern states the name drum is gen- 
erally applied to the species, and in addition the terms thunder 
pumper, gaspergou and jewel head are used. Gaspergou is a 
term used in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The names drum, 
croaker and thunder pumper have reference to certain sounds 
produced by the fish either by means of its air bladder or by 
grinding together the large molarlike teeth in the pharynx. 
The name jewel head probably refers to the otoliths or ear- 
bones, frequently called lucky stones, which are found in the 
skull of this species. In Texas, adjacent to Mexican territory,, 
occurs the name gaspagie, a variation of the name gaspergou. 

The fresh-water drum is widely distributed; it occurs in Lake 



592 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

<Champlain and the entire Great lakes region, the Ohio and 
Mississippi valleys southward to Texas. The U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion obtained a specimen at Point Breeze N. Y. on Lake Ontario. 
I)e Kay reported it as very common in Lake Erie and called 
sheepshead at Buffalo. At the time of his writing the fish was 
scarcely ever eaten. It is found principally in large streams 
and lakes and rarely enters creeks and small rivers. In 
western Texas the species is rare. In the wilds of Texas, New 
Mexico and northern Mexico Mr Turpe has found this fish in 
clear limestone streams emptying into the Rio Grande. 

This species is usually found on the bottom, where it feeds 
chiefly on crustaceans and mollusks and sometimes small fishes. 
It is specially fond of crawfish and small shells such as 
Oyclas and P a 1 u d i n a . Mr Turpe mentions water plants 
as forming part of its food and states that it will take a hook 
baited with worms or small minnows. 

The fresh- water drum grows to a length of 4 feet and a weight 
of 60 pounds, but the average market specimens rarely exceed 
2 feet in length and in many parts of the West much smaller 
ones are preferred. Nothing is recorded about the breeding 
habits of this species, and as to its edible qualities there is the 
greatest difference of opinion. Some writers claim that its flesh 
is tough and coarse with a disagreeable odor, specially in the 
Great lakes. Individuals from the Ohio river and from more 
southern streams are fairly good food fish, while in Texas Mr 
Turpe considers it one of the most excellent of the fresh-water 
fishes, comparing favorably with black bass. Mr Robert Ridg- 
way of the National Museum at Washington, pronounces the 
species from the Wabash river in Indiana, a fine table fish 
-though, he says, other people there consider it inferior. Rich- 
ardson described what is supposed to be a deformed specimen of 
this drum under the name of malashegany, which he had from 
Lake Huron. He described it as a firm, white, well-tasting fish, 
but never fat and requiring much boiling. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 593 

Suborder pharyngognathi 
Labroid Fishes 
Family labridae 
Wrasse Fishes 
Genus tautogolabrus Giinther 
Body oblong, not elevated, comparatively slender and com- 
pressed; head moderate, more or less pointed, but the jaws not 
notably produced; teeth in the jaws in several series, the outer- 
most very strong; the teeth unequal, conical and pointed; no 
posterior canines. Cheeks with small scales; opercles with large 
ones; interopercles naked; preopercle with the vertical limb 
finely serrated. Branchiostegals five. Gill membranes consid- 
erably united, free from the isthmus; gill rakers short. Scales 
moderate, 35 to 50 in the lateral line; lateral line continuous, 
abruptly bent opposite posterior part of second dorsal; dorsal 
long and low, the spinous portion much longer than the soft, 
of 18 or 19 low, subequal, rather strong spines; soft dorsal 
slightly elevated; anal fin similar to soft dorsal, with three 
strong graduated spines; caudal truncate; pectorals short, the 
ventrals inserted behind their axils. Species two, both Amer- 
ican. This genus is very close to the European genus Cteno- 
1 a b r u s , differing in the less perfect squamation of the head 
and in the greater number of dorsal spines and vertebrae. 

288 Tautogolabrus adspersus (Walbaum) 

Bergall; Cunner; Chogset; Nipper 

Labrus adspersus Walbaum, Art. Gen. Pise. 254, 1792. 

Tautoga Caerulea Mitchell, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 24, 1814, New York. 

Labrus chogset Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 402, pi. 3, fig. 2, 

1815, New York. 
Labrus chogset fulva Mitchill, 1. c. 403, 1815, New York. 
Ctenolabrus uninotatus Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIII, 

239, 1839, New York, young; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 174, 

pi. 29, fig. 90, 1842; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 90, 1862. 
Otenolabrus burgall Gunthee, 1. c. 90, 1862, Canada. 
Otenolabrus chogset Cuviee & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XIII, 237, 

1839. 
€tenolabrus ceruleus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 172, pi. 29, fig. 93, 1842. 
€tenolal)rus adspersus Jordan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 599, 

1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 251, pi. IV, fig. 6, 1890. 



594 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Tantogolabrus ad&persus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 14, 1879 r 
Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 87, 1880; Bull. iAm. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 
368, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 102, 1898; Jordan & 
Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1577, 1898, pi. OCXXXVI, fig. 
595, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 107, 1900; Sherwood 
& Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 30, 1901. 

Body fusiform, stout, its greatest depth nearly one third of 
total length without caudal, the profile much less convex than 
in the tautog; least depth of caudal peduncle one half of great- 
est depth of body. Head one third of total length without 
caudal, the snout pointed, and forming one third of the length 
of head; eye placed high, its diameter one fifth length of head;; 
preorbital bone not equal in width to the eye; jaws equal, with 
thick lips; mouth moderate, the maxillary nearly reaching to* 
vertical from front of eye; five canines in front of upper jaw r 
about four in lower, the teeth on sides of jaw largest in front; 
bands of small concave teeth behind canines; gill rakers very 
short, about 6+11 on first arch; scales rather small; top 
of head, preorbital, maxillary, mandible, interopercle, and pos- 
terior edge of preopercle and opercle naked; preopercle with 
about five rows of small scales; opercle with four or five rows- 
of larger ones; fins naked. Base of spinous dorsal two and 
one half times as long as that of soft dorsal; the spines gradu- 
ally increasing in length up to the seventh, from which they are 
about equal, the seventh about three eighths as long as the 
head, the first only one sixth as long as the head. Soft dorsal 
a little higher than spinous, the longest ray one half as long 
as the head. Caudal rounded, its middle rays about one half as 
long as the head. Anal under the second half of the dorsal, its 
base as long as the head without the snout; the spines stout 
and sharp, the first equal to the eye in length, the second and 
third nearly equal and a little more than one third length of 
head; the fourth and fifth soft rays equal, longest, one half as 
long as the head. Pectoral broad, short, one half as long as- 
the head. Ventral slightly longer than pectoral, not reaching 
to vent. 

D. XVII 1, 9 or 10; A. Ill, 9; scales 6-47-13; vertebrae 17+19. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 595' 

Color bluish or brownish, usually with a brassy luster on 
sides; head and back sometimes spotted with brassy; young with 
darker blotches and markings, and' often with a black blotch 
near the middle of the dorsal fin. Some individuals are yellow- 
ish and the young are often green. 

The cunner is known also as chogset and bergall (this changed 
to bengal in Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J.). Mitchill gives the 
name of bluefish as in use in New York in 1815; perch, sea 
perch and blue perch are New England names given for this fish. 
Names used Avith reference to its bait-stealing propensities are: 
nipper and bait-stealer. 

The cunner is common from Labrador to at least as far south 
as New Jersey. 

The bergall is found in Gravesend bay throughout the year. 
In 1898, the writer found it in Peconic bay and the adjacent 
Scallop pond; south side of Great South bay opposite Patch- 
ogue; Fire Island inlet; Blue Point cove; and Duncan's creek. 
In 1899, young examples were taken at Water Island ocean 
beach, June 6. In 1901, young of a yellow color and only If 
inches long were seined in a creek near Fire Island inlet, August 
15. Half grown and adults were caught at a wreck on Tobey's 
Flat, August 14, and at Smith's Point, August 23. 

At Woods Hole Mass. the cunner is very abundant and remains 
during the entire year. Thousands perish from cold every win- 
ter. The fish spawns in June. The egg is about -h inch in 
diameter, buoyant, and has been hatched in the tidal cod-jar in 
five days in water of a mean temperature of 56° F. By August 
1 the young an inch long are observed. Outside of Gayhead 
and Cuttyhunk the fish reaches a weight of 2-J pounds, but the 
usual weight is from J to J pound. In February 1901, thousands 
of cunners were killed by extreme cold at Woods Hole. 

The cunner endures captivity very well, individuals having 
been kept three years or longer. The species is usually asso- 
ciated with the tautog or blackfish; in many places it proves a 
great annoyance to fishermen. In some parts of New England 
the fish is highly esteemed, but farther south it is not in high 



596 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

repute, the hard scales and stiff, sharp spines making it incon- 
venient to prepare for cooking. 

Dr Mitchill describes a yellow variety of the cunner, and De 
Kay has considered the young, which has a black spot on the 
anterior portion of the dorsal fin, as a distinct species, named by 
him the spotted bergall. 

The young vary greatly in color. We have seen some dull 
brown, others that were yellowish, and still others of a bright 
green. Dusky bands are characteristic, also, of the young 
stages. Examples were taken at Blue Point cove and at Fire 
Island. The cunner is a, permanent resident, and does not 
retreat into deep water except in very cold weather. Its spawn- 
ing takes place in June and July. The species is fished for with 
the hook, and is taken in nets, which are baited and set among 
the rocks. The catch of the Irish cunner boats of Boston has 
been estimated at about 300,000 pounds annually. 

Genus tautoga Mitchill 
Body long, not elevated nor greatly compressed. Head large, 
nearly as deep as long, with a convex profile. Mouth rather 
small. Teeth very strong, conical, in two series; the outer 
somewhat incisorlike; the two anterior teeth in each jaw 
strong; the posterior teeth small, without canines. Eye small, 
high up. Cheeks with small scales; inter opercle naked; opercles 
naked, except above; scales on body rather small, in about 60 
transverse series, those on ventral region reduced in size; lat- 
eral line continuous, abruptly decurved opposite the end of the 
soft dorsal. Dorsal fin long, low, continuous, the spinous part 
much the longer, with about 16 low, strong, subequal spines, 
each with a small cutaneous appendage at tip; soft dorsal higher 
than spinous; anal similar to soft dorsal, with three stout, 
graduated spines; pectorals broad and rather short; caudal 
short, truncate, with rounded angles; the soft parts of the ver- 
tical fins with the membranes somewhat scaly; ventrals con- 
spicuously behind pectorals. Branchiostegals five. Gill rakers 
very short and feeble; gill membranes somewhat connected, free 
from the isthmus. Vertebrae 16+18=34. This genus contains 
a single species, a large Labroid, abundant on the Atlantic coast 
of the United States. 






FISHES OF NEW YORK 597 

289 Tautoga onitis (Linnaeus) 

BlacJcfish; Tautog 

Labrus onitis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 286, 1758; ed. XII, 478, 1766. 

Tautoga niger Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 23, 1814J New York. 

Labrus tautoga Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 399, 1815, Long 

Island. 
Tautoga americana De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 175, pi. 14, fig. 39, 1842; 

Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 110, pi. XX, fig. 2, 1867. 
Tautoga onitis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 88, 1862; Goode & Bean, 

Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 14, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 60O, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 137, pi. Ill, fig. 3, 1888; 

19th Rep. Gomm. Fish. N. Y. 252, pi. V, fig. 7, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. IX, 368, 1897; H. M.~ Smith, Bull. U. S, F. C. 1897, 102, 1898; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1578, 1898, pi. 

CCXXXVII, fig. 596, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 107, 

1900; Sherwood & Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. O. 1901, 30, 1901. 

Body deep, moderately compressed, the outline of head and 
back convex, the greatest depth three eighths to one third of 
total length without caudal, the least depth of caudal peduncle 
equal to postorbital part of head. Head short, blunt, its length 
contained three and one fourth to three and one half times in 
total without caudal; profile of snout very steep; preorbital very 
wide, wider than the eye; mouth small, with very thick lips, the 
maxillary reaching the vertical from anterior or posterior nos- 
tril; eye one fifth as long as the head; snout one third as long 
as the head; jaws nearly equal in front, with two or three large 
canines and smaller ones on the side, gradually diminishing in 
size backwards. A patch of small scales behind eye extending 
downward to middle of cheek where there are five or six series; 
a small patch of scales at upper edge of opercle; head elsewhere 
naked. About 3+6 very short and blunt gill rakers on first 
arch. Spinous dorsal composed of stout, sharp spines, the 
connecting membrane between them projecting beyond them; 
the first spine as long as the eye; the spines gradually 
increasing in length to the 11th which is one third as long 
as the head and twice as long as the first ; the remaining spines 
are about equal to the 11th; the base of soft dorsal is one 
half as long as the head; the longest ray is nearly twice as long 
as the last ray and more than one half as long as the head. 
Caudal convex, the middle rays about one half as long as the 



598 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

head. Anal base coterminous with the dorsal base, two thirds 
as long as the head, the spines rather long, stout, and gradu- 
ated, the first a little longer than the eye, the third twice as long 
as the eye; the third and fourth rays longest, as long as post- 
orbital part of head. Pectoral large, as long as the head with- 
out the snout, reaching to below the 10th spine of the dorsal. 
Ventral one half as long as the head, reaching to below the 
12th spine of the dorsal. D. XVI to XVII, 10; A. Ill, 8; V. 
I, 5; P. I, 15. Scales 14-60 to 65-29. 

Color blackish, greenish, frequently pale bluish or bluish 
black with metallic reflections. Often with irregular bands of 
a deeper hue. Lips, lower jaws and abdomen lighter, sometimes 
pale, sprinkled with black points, and sometimes of the same 
color as the rest of the body. Eye greenish. 

This is better known in New York as the blackfish; farther 
south it is styled chub or salt-water chub, Moll, Will George 
and oyster fish. Mitchill gives the name tautog as of Mohegan 
origin. He publishes for the species the names toad, blackfish 
and runner. The Mohegan name tautog, according to De Kay, 
is said to mean black. The fish is found from Nova Scotia to 
Virginia. It occurs in all parts of Great South bay visited by 
us. Some of the localities at which it was taken are the fol- 
lowing: Blue Point cove and Lifesaving station, Great River 
beach and Fire Island. The name used at Patchogue is black- 
fish. We saw a few tautog among the fishes caught in a trap 
at Islip, October 1, 1890. In 1898 specimens were obtained in 
Peconic bay, at Blue Point cove, Islip, Nichols's Point and Fire 
Island inlet; young individuals were taken July 29, August 25, 
September 1 and 16. Following is a list of localities in which 
the tautog was sparingly taken in Great South bay in 1901: 

Clam Pond cove July 19' 

Fire Island inlet .August 15 

Cherry Grove August 17 

Smith's Point August 23 

Mouth Swan river September 5 

Off Widow's creek (young) September 2& 

Off Swan river (young) October 7 and 11 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 599 

Dr Mitchill gives a most entertaining account of the habits 
and mode of capture of this well known species. At the time of 
his writing, in 1814, the price varied from eight to 12 cents a 
pound. 

It has been known to reach a length of 3 feet and a weight of - 
21^ pounds. Individuals of 12 to 14 pounds have occasionally 
l>een taken off Cape Ann. The fishing season begins in April 
sand may last till winter. Examples are sometimes speared in 
the winter months in New England rivers. The tautog is not 
migratory, but hibernates in cold weather, going into the mud 
in November or December. It is sometimes destroyed by freez- 
ing; such accidents have occurred in ponds on Martha's Vine- 
yard and elsewhere. 

The spawning season begins late in April. The eggs are 
deposited in depths of 6 to 8 feet or more among the rocks. In 
the fish cultural operations at Woods Hole Mass. it was £ound 
that the egg is buoyant and only -i 6 - inch in diameter; in the 
automatic tidal box they hatched in about five days with the 
water temperature at 69° F., and in two or three days with the 
temperature at 71°. 

There is great diversity in the colors of the young, just as in 
the case of the young cunners. Some are bright green, others 
brown or red and some are mottled with brown, red and green, 
intermingled with pale areas. The food of the tautog consists 
of mollusks and crustaceans; crabs, and specially fiddlers, bar- 
nacles, clams and lobsters are among the favorite articles of 
food. The annelids, known as sandworms, are also very attrac- 
tive to it. 

The tautog is an excellent food fish and one of the commonest 
of our market species. It is a permanent resident in the bays 
and is hardy in captivity. Individuals have been kept longer 
than three years and some of them have grown remarkably. 
Their food includes chopped hard clam, live killifish, shrimps, 
and fiddler crabs, of which latter they are extremely fond. 
Spawning takes place regularly in the tanks in spring, but, as 
the eggs are very small and buoyant, they must invariably be 
lost at the overflow. As the newly hatched embryos are only 
~iV inch long they too would flow out unseen if any were left 
lor development. 






COO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM ~! 

Group ZEOIDEA 
Family zeidae 
John Dories 
Genus zenopsis Gill 
Body ovate, much compressed, without scales, and without 
warts or humps in the adult. Head deeper than long, its ante- 
rior profile steep. Mouth rather large, upper jaw protractile; 
teeth small on jaws and vomer, none on the palatines. Various 
bones of the head and shoulder girdle armed with spines. 
Series of bony plates along the sides of the belly and the bases 
of both dorsal and anal, each plate armed with a strong spine. 
Eye large, placed high. Gill rakers short. Dorsal spines very 
strong, usually 10 in number, some of them filamentous; anal 
spines three; ventral fins long, the rays I, six or I, seven. 
Caudal peduncle slender, the fin not forked. Three species 
known, differing from the European genus Zeus mainly in 
the presence of three anal spines instead of four, and in the 
greater development of the spinous armature. Pelagic. 

290 Zenopsis ocellatus (Storer) 
John Dory 

Zeus ocellatus Storer, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. VI, 385, 1858, Province- 
town Mass.; Putnam in Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 279, 1867. 

Zenopsis ocellatus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. VI, 126, 1862; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 456, 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic 
Ichth. 224, with plate, 1896; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 1660, 1898, pi. CCXLVI, fig. 618, 1900. 

Body short, deep, compressed, its greatest depth one half of 
total length including caudal; the caudal peduncle short and 
very slender, its least depth scarcely more than one half diame- 
ter of eye. Head subquadrangular, large, the mouth large and 
very oblique, the maxillary one sixth of total length without 
caudal, its width posteriorly nearly one half its length. A slight 
concavity over the eyes. Eye two ninths as long as the head 
and placed high. Snout two fifths as long as head. Top of head 
with roughish ridges, but without spines; a spine at the base 
of each dentary bone; a supplemental maxillary bone; teeth 
nearly obsolete. Gill rakers short. Skin naked except for the- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 601 

bony bucklers which are armed each with a central spine hooked 
backward and marked with radiating ridges; seven bucklers 
along the base of the dorsal, the fifth and sixth largest, these 
located under the fifth to the 19th dorsal ray; two on the median 
line in front of the ventrals, the second larger, as long as the 
eye; about eight plates between ventrals and anal origin, and 
five along base of anal. Dorsal spines stout and long, the first 
four or five filamentous, the second longest, equal to total length 
without the head and the caudal fin; the base of the fin five 
sixths as long as the head. Soft dorsal base a little longer, as 
long as the head; the rays short, the longest, near the end of 
the fin, equal to diameter of eye. Caudal fin short, rounded, the 
middle rays as long as the postorbital part of head. Pectoral 
short, about as long as snout. Ventrals long, nearly as long as 
the head, and almost reaching to the anal origin. Anal long, 
one half of total length without caudal, the spinous and soft 
portions scarcely connected; the first spine longest, one and 
one half times as long as the third, and one fifth as long as the 
head; the longest anal ray nearly one third as long as the head. 
D. X, 24; A. Ill, 24; V. I, 5; P. 12. 

Color silvery, nearly plain; a black lateral ocellated spot in 
life, disappearing in spirits. 

Of this pelagic species only one specimen is known; this was 
taken off Provincetown Mass. and presented to the museum of 
the Boston Society of Natural History by Capt. N. E. Atwood. 

Suborder SQUAMIPINNES 
Scaly Fins 

Family ephippidae 
Spadefishes 
Genus chaetodipterus Lace'pede 
Body much elevated and compressed, its outline nearly orbic- 
ular, the anterior profile nearly vertical. Scales small, 55 to 
70 in the course of the lateral line. Jaws about equal; no teeth 
on vomer or palatines; teeth on jaws slender, somewhat mov- 
able; preopercle finely serrulate. Branchiostegals six. Dorsal- 
fins two, somewhat connected, the first of usually nine spines, 



C02 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the third of which is elongate; anal spines three, small, the sec- 
ond the longest; ventral with a large accessory scale. Pyloric 
caeca four to six. American; distinguished from the Asiatic 
genus Ephippus by the very much smaller scales. 

291 Chaetodipterus faber (Broussonet) 

Spadefish; Triple-tail; Angelfish; Moonftsh 

Chaetodon faber Broussonet, Ichth. Decas. 1, V, pi. 4, 1782, Jamaica; Caro- 
lina. 
Chaetodon ovdformis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 247, pi. V, 

fig. 4, 1815, New York; Am. Month. Mag. II, 247, February, 1818. 
Ephippus gigas Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 2, vol. 2, 191, 1829, America; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 99, pi. 23, fig. 71, 1842, New York; 

Holbrook, Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 105, pi. 15, fig. 2, 1856; Gunther, Cat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 61, 1860. 
Ephippus faber De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 97, pi. 23, fig. 68; Holbrook, 

Ichth. S. C. ed. 1, 108, pi. 15, fig. 1, 1856; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 

II, 61, 1860. 
Chaetodipterus faber Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 613, 1883; 

Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 253, pi. VI, fig. 8, 1890; H. M. 

Smith, Bull. IT. S. F. C. 1897, 102, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 1668, pi. OCXDVII, fig. 619, 1900. 

Body oblong-ovate, its greatest depth equal to the distance 
from the eye to the end of the dorsal base or anal base; least 
depth of caudal peduncle one half length of head. Head short, 
two sevenths of total length without caudal; snout two fifths 
as long as the head; preorbital deep, equal to diameter of eye, 
which is three tenths as long as the head; mouth moderate, 
nearly horizontal, the maxilla reaching to below front of eye; 
chin with a row of pores; dorsal and ventral outlines similar, 
greatly convex. First dorsal spine minute; second very short, 
one half as long as the eye; third spine longest, as long as the 
head without the snout; fourth spine one third as long as the 
head; the remaining spines rapidly diminishing in size to the 
last which is one third as long as the eye. The soft dorsal is 
separated from the spinous by a deep notch; the anterior part 
of the fin is greatly elevated, the longest ray being three sev- 
enths of total length without caudal; the fin is falcate, the last 
rays being short. Caudal crescentic with the outer rays pro- 
duced, and about as long as the head. Anal similar in shape 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



003 



to the soft dorsal; the first spine one half as long as the eye, the 
second as long as the eye, and the third three fourths as long 
as the second; the longest rays equal one half of greatest depth 
of body. Pectoral short, rounded, one half as long as the head. 
Ventral much longer, as long as the head, reaching beyond the 
Tent. 

D. VIII, I, 20 to 22; A. Ill, 18; V. I, 5; P. I, 16; lateral line 
60 to 65; pyloric caeca 4 to 6; vertebrae 9 or 10-14. 

Grayish; a dusky band across the eye to the throat; a second 
similar band, broader, beginning in front of the dorsal and ex- 
tending across the base of the pectoral to the belly; a third 
Mud. narrower, extending to the middle of the sides from the 
Mse of the fourth and fifth dorsal spines; a fourth broader band 
from the last dorsal spines to anal spines, the remaining bands 
alternately short and long; all of these bands growing obscure 
and disappearing with age; ventrals black. 

The moonfish is the sheepshead chaetodon of Mitchill, and the 
banded ephippus of De Kay. Dr Mitchill records it as taken at 
the east end of Long Island, July 27, 1815. De Kay, in his New 
York Fauna, has the following concerning the species: "About 
twenty years since, they were caught here in seines in great 
numbers and exposed in the markets for sale. Some of them 
were 18 inches long. Those described by Mitchill were captured 
in 1815 and 1817. The popular names of three-tailed sheepshead 
and three-tailed porgee were given them by the fishermen in 
allusion to their prolonged dorsal and anal fins. . . Schoepff 
states that it is called angelfish in South Carolina." 

The species is called spadefish in the states bordering the 
Gulf of Mexico. 

The moonfish has occasionally been taken as far north as 
Cape Cod. Dr Smith records it as a very rare straggler in Vine- 
yard Sound, Mass. A specimen was obtained in 1889, and three 
have been observed since. All were taken in traps at Menemsha 
in August and September. The fish were uniform in size and 
about 16 to 18 inches long. The species reaches a length of 
2 to 3 feet. Southward it is recorded from as far as Guatemala. 



004 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

It occurs in the West Indies. In Chesapeake bay it is moder- 
ately common. 

As a food fish this species is highly prized by those who are 
familiar with its qualities. 

Family chaetodontidae 
Butterfly Fishes 
Genus chaetodo\ (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body short, deep, very strongly compressed, specially above 
and behind; head small, compressed, almost everywhere scaly; 
mouth very small, terminal, the jaws provided with long, slen- 
der, flexible, bristlelike teeth; vomer sometimes with teeth; pre- 
operculum entire or nearly so, without spine. Dorsal fin sin- 
gle, continuous, not notched, the spinous part longer than the 
soft part, of about 13 spines, the spines not graduated, some of 
the middle ones being longer than the last; last rays of soft 
dorsal usually rapidly shortened, some of them occasionally fil- 
amentous (in East Indian species); caudal peduncle short, the 
caudal fin fan-shaped; anal similar to soft dorsal, preceded by 
three or four strong spines. Body covered with rather large 
ctenoid scales, somewhat irregular in their arrangement; the 
lateral line curved, high, parallel with the back. Gill openings 
rather narrow, the membranes narrowly joined to the isthmus; 
branchiostegals six. A very large genus of singular and beauti- 
ful fishes abounding in the tropical seas, specially about vol- 
canic rocks and coral reefs; most of them have the body crossed 
by transverse black bars. They are all very active, feeding on 

small animals. 

Subgenus chaetodontops 

292 Chaetodon ocellatus Bloeh 

Parche 

Chaetodon ocellatus Bloch, Ichth. Ill, 105, pi. 211, fig. 2, 1787; Eigenmann 

& Horning, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 7, 1887; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. 

Hist. IX, 368, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 102, 1898; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1674, 1898, pi. CCXLIX, 

fig. 621, 1900; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 33, 1901. 
Chaetodon bimaculatus Bloch, Ichth. pi. 219, fig. 1, 1790; Cuvier & 

Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VII, 67, 1831; Gunther, Cat. Fish. 

Brit. Mus. II, 9, 1860; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 940, 

1883. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



005 



Sarothro&us maculocinctus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 99, 1.861, New- 
port R. I. ; young. , 

Chaetodon maculocinctus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 616, 
1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. 0. VII, 138, pi. I, fig. 4, 1888. 

Body subovate, strongly compressed; greatest depth three 
fifths to two thirds of total length without caudal; least depth 
of caudal peduncle about one third length of head. Head two 
fifths of total without caudal; the upper profile concave except 
for a slight protuberance over eyes; snout equals five sixths 
diameter of eye, which is one third as long as the head; the 
maxilla reaches to below the anterior nostril, its length equal to 
length of snout; lower jaw somewhat produced; suborbital bone 
one half as wide as the eye. First dorsal spine one fourth as 
long as the head; second spine about one half as long as head; 
third and fourth spines longest, as long as the head without the 
snout; last spine two fifths as long as head; longest soft ray 
one half as long as the head. Anal fin under the posterior half 
of the dorsal; the first spine as long as the snout; the second 
longest, nearly one half as long as the head; the third nearly 
as long as the second; the longest ray as long as the second 
spine; the base of the fin equals one third of total length with- 
out caudal. Caudal rounded, the middle rays one half as long 
as the head. Pectoral reaching to below the 10th spine of the 
dorsal, as long as the head without the snout. Ventral reach- 
ing to the second anal spine, four fifths as long as the head. 

D. XII or XIII, 18 to 20; A. Ill, 16 to 18; V. I, 5. Scales 8-45 
to 50-20. 

Color golden gray, sometimes yellow or orange; a large,, 
oblong, dark blotch on base of soft dorsal extended downward 
by a black band crossing the body and continuing faintly upon 
the base of the anal; a dark band from the origin of the dorsal 
through the eye and extending downward across the cheek. 
The bands are nowhere more than one half as wide as the eye. 

The parche belongs to the West Indian fauna; it is common 
at Havana, and the young follow the Gulf Stream northward in 
summer to New Jersey, Long Island, Rhode Island, and Cape 
Cod. In the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith r 






606 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

it must now be regarded as a common species, for, in 1900, the 
number of specimens taken at Katama bay was 123; these were 
observed on 13 different occasions between August 15 and 
October 26; on September 8 the number taken was 26 and 21 
were seined on October 3. Up to 1897 only a few specimens 
had been secured annually in October and November — not more 
than five in any one season. 

A single individual, 1J inches long, was taken in the seine at 
Beesley's Point N. J. September 2. 

The general color of the sides was yellow, more persistent in 
alcohol on the ventral surface and caudal peduncle than else- 
where. 

D. XIII, 20; A. Ill, 18; lateral line, 45; third and fourth dorsal 
spines equal, and as long as the head without the snout. 

The parche is very rare in Gravesend bay. Two small indi- 
viduals were taken by Mr De Nyse in October 1898. Mr De 
Nyse informs me that the roundish black spot in the soft dorsal 
remains fixed under all conditions, while the band extending 
from it to the anal fin sometimes disappears. The whole body 
of the fish at times appears to have an orange tinge, but at 
other times it is gray. 

An individual about 2 inches long was obtained from a fish 
pound near Clam Pond cove, Oct. 17, 1898. This species is con- 
spicuously beautiful on account of the orange color of its fins 
contrasting sharply with the dark bands on the head and body. 

Family teuthididae 
Surgeons 

Genus teuthis Linnaeus 
This genus includes those Teuthididae which have the 
tail armed with a sharp, antrorse, lancetlike, movable spine; 
strong, fixed, incisor teeth; ventral rays I, five, and usually nine 
spines in the dorsal fin. The numerous species are found in all 
tropical seas, herbivorous fishes living about coral reefs. The 
adult is protected by the murderous caudal spine, which grows 
larger with age. , , - 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 60T 

293 Teuthis hepatus Linnaeus 
Surgeons; Doctor Fish; Tang 

Teuthis hepatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 507, 1766, Carolina; Meek & 

Hoffman, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 229, 1884; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. IX, 368, 1897; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 1691, 1898. 
Acanthurus phlebotomus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. X, 176 r 

1835, New York, etc.; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 139, pi. 73, fig. 

234, 1842. 
Acanthurus chirurgus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. X, 168, 

1835; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 329, 1861; Jordan & Gilbert,. 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 617, 1883. 
Acanthurus nigricans Jordan & Gilbert, 1. c. 941, 1883. 

Body ovate, its greatest depth one half of total length with- 
out caudal; anterior profile moderately convex, forming an 
angle of 45° with axis of body. Caudal lunate, its inner ray& 
about two thirds length of outer rays; caudal lobes subequal, 
the upper never filamentous. Head rather short, two sevenths 
of total length without caudal. D. IX, 26; A. Ill, 24. 

Color dark olive brown, more or less distinctly greenish; 
middle of sides paler; sides with about 12 distinct blackish 
vertical bars, rather narrower than the interspaces, most dis- 
tinct over front of anal; a brownish stripe along base of dorsal; . 
spinous dorsal with alternate stripes running upward and back- 
ward, of dark blue and bronze olive, the two colors of about 
equal width; soft dorsal with a bluish streak on the anterior 
side of each ray, and a bronze stripe behind it; fins very dark, 
often almost black. 

The surgeon is common in the West Indies and from Florida 
to Bahia and northward in summer to Cape Cod. 

A young individual, about 3 inches long, was caught in Mr 
John B. De Nyse's pound, Gravesend bay, Oct. 22, 1897. The 
species had not been certainly known before to occur north of 
Charleston S. C. De Kay described and figured it as a New 
York species solely on the authority of Cuvier and Valenciennes. 
Dr Smith records the capture of a few specimens in the vicinity 
of Woods Hole Mass. during the summer of 1900. It was last 
observed on October 3 when one example was taken. 



608 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Group FLECTOGNATHI 

Suborder sclerodermi 
Family balistidae 
Triggerfishes 
Genus jjalistes (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body compressed, covered with thick, rough scales or plates 
of moderate size, 50 to 75 in a lengthwise series ; a naked groove 
before eye below nostrils; lateral line more or less developed, 
very slender, undulate, conspicuous only when the scales are 
dry, extending on the cheeks. Pelvic flap large, movable, sup- 
ported by a series of slender, pungent spines. Caudal peduncle 
compressed, its scales unarmed, without spines or differentiated 
tubercles similar to those on rest of body. Gill opening with 
enlarged bony scutes behind it; cheeks entirely scaly, without 
naked patches or grooves. Both jaws with irregular, incisor- 
like teeth, usually four on each side in each jaw. First dorsal 
of three spines, the anterior of which is much the largest, the 
second acting as a trigger, locking the first when erected; the 
third nearly as large as second and remote from it; second 
dorsal and anal long, similar to each other, in the adult always 
falcate or filamentous in front; caudal fin rounded, with the 
outer rays much produced in the adult; branchiostegals six; 
vertebrae 7+10. Species rather few, chiefly American; some of 
them straying to the Old World. 

Subgenus capriscus Rafinesque 

294 Balistes carolinensis Gmelin 

Leather Jacket; Turbot; Triggerfish 

Balistes carolinensis Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1468, 1788, Carolina; Bean, 

Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 368, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. 

F. O. 1897, 104, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

1701, 1898, pi. CCLVIII, fig. 632, 1900. 
Balistes capriscus Gmelin, Syst. Nat. I, 1471, 1788, Indian & American 

Oceans; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 217, 1870; Goode & 

Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 3, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 855, 1883. 
Balistes fuliginosus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 339, pi. 57, fig.. 188, 

1842, New York. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 609 

Body oblong, compressed, its greatest depth one half of total 
length to end of middle caudal rays; least depth of caudal pe- 
duncle one third length of head. Head nearly one third of total 
length without caudal; eye small, placed high, one fourth as long 
as the snout, and one fifth as long as the head; mouth small, 
terminal, the maxillary as long as the eye. Dorsal origin 
slightly behind vertical of hind margin of orbit; base of spinous 
dorsal one fourth of total length without caudal; first spine 
longest, one half as long as the head; second spine slender, one 
third as long as the head; third spine stouter than second, one 
fifth as long as the head. An interspace between spinous and 
soft dorsal. Soft dorsal base slightly longer than the head; the 
third and fourth rays longest, as long as the snout; the last ray 
shorter than the eye. Middle caudal rays one half as long as 
the head; external rays five sixths as long as the head. Anal 
opposite and similar to soft dorsal, its base as long as the 
head, its longest ray one fifth of total length without caudal. 
Pectoral short, one half as long as the head, reaching to below 
third spine of dorsal. Ventral flap large, supported by several 
slender pungent spines. D. Ill, 27; A. 25; scales 55 to 63 (58 in 
specimen examined), about 38 in a transverse series from vent 
upward and forward. Lateral line very inconspicuous, extend- 
ing from the eye backward to below the third dorsal spine, 
where it descends to a point nearly over the sixth or seventh 
ray of the anal; here it turns to form a V-shaped figure ascend- 
ing to the median line and along the middle of the caudal 
peduncle to the base of the caudal fin; a branch from behind 
eye extends obliquely downward and forward to the breast 
below pectorals; the lateral lines of the two sides are connected 
by a cross branch at the nape. 

Color in life olive gray; a more or less distinct darker cross- 
bar under front of second dorsal and one under last ray; some 
small violet spots on upper part of back; usually a ring of blue 
spots, alternating with olive green streaks, about eye; violace- 
ous marks on sides of snout; first dorsal spotted and clouded 
with bluish; second dorsal pale yellowish with clear sky-blue 



610 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

spots separated by olive green reticulations, the spots arranged 
in rows; blue markings all fading in alcohol, leaving the oliva- 
ceous streaks; base of dorsal with three or four dark diffuse 
shades in the young; base of pectoral bluish, with olive spots; 
anal colored like soft dorsal; pectoral greenish. 

The triggerfish inhabits the tropical parts of the Atlantic 
occasionally following the Gulf Stream northward as far as 
Cape Cod. In the Colonial Museum at Halifax is a specimen 
said to have been taken on the coast of Nova Scotia. At Woods 
Hole Mass. it is very rare and does not occur every year; the 
young have not been observed there. 

The species is uncommon in Gravesend bay, Long Island, but is 
seen occasionally in summer in the bays opening into the Atlan- 
tic. De Kay described a specimen measuring 12J inches. In 
the year 1820, a specimen was obtained for him from New York 

harbor. 

Subgenus balistes 

295 Balistes vetula Linnaeus 

Blue-striped Triggerfish; Bessy Corka 

Balistes vetula Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 329, 1758, Ascension Island ; 
Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 215, 1870; Jordan & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 855, 1883; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 
1897, 103, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S, Nat. Mus. 1703, 
1898. 

Body shaped as in B. Caroline n si. s, its greatest depth 
five ninths of total length without caudal. Head one third of 
total length without caudal. Lateral line placed as in B. c a r o - 
1 i n e n s i s , but the median part, from base of first dorsal to 
front of caudal peduncle wanting in the adult, branch on cheek 
ceasing opposite gill opening; cross branch present; ventral flap 
well developed, with slender, sharp spines. Scales on head 
much smaller and more crowded than those on body. Third dor- 
sal spine rather shorter and weaker than second, remote from 
it. Caudal fin widely forked, the lobes filamentous and about 
equal. Dorsal in adult filamentous at tip. Anal little elevated 
anteriorly. D. Ill, 29; A. 27; lateral line 63. 

Two curved, bluish, dark-edged bands on the side of the head, 
the lower from the angle of the mouth towards the throat, the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 611 

upper from above the snout to the root of the pectoral; a black 
light-edged line, similarly curved below the eye; several other 
similar lines radiating from the eye; caudal fin margined above 
and below with bluish, and with an intramarginal bluish band; 
dorsal and anal fins with transverse bluish bands; young with 
some irregular oblique black lines following the rows of scales. 
The blue-striped triggerfish is common in the West Indies 
and occurs occasionally northward on our coast as far as Cape 
Cod. According to Dr Smith it is found in Vineyard Sound 
every season, mostly in September, adult specimens being taken 
in some numbers in the traps at Menemsha. During summer 
and fall the young, L§ or 2 inches long, are found at the surface 
in Vineyard sound in gulf weed and also around the shoreM. 

Family monacanthidae 

Filefishes 
Genus monacanthus Cuvier 
Body short and deep, very strongly compressed, covered with 
minute, rough scales. Mouth very small; upper jaw with a 
double series of incisorlike teeth, usually 6 in the outer and 
4 in the inner series; lower jaw with about 6 incisors in a single 
series; teeth connivent, unequal; gill opening a small slit, shorter 
than the eye, nearly vertical, below the posterior part of the 
eye, and just in front of upper edge of pectoral. Dorsal spine 
large, armed with two series of retrorse barbs, and no conspicu- 
ous filaments; second dorsal and anal fins similar to each other, 
of about 25 to 35 rays each ; caudal fin moderate, rounded : pelvic 
bone with a blunt, movable spine, the bone connected by a mov- 
able flap of varying size; side of tail often with a patch of spines, 
specially in the males. Vertebrae 7+11 to 14=18 to 21. 
Species very numerous, in warm seas, most of them reaching a 
small size. All are lean fishes with leathery skin and bitter 
flesh, unsuited for food. 

Subgenus stephanolepis Grill 

296 Monacanthus hispidus (Linnaeus) 

Filefish 

Batistes hispidus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 405, 1766, Carolina. 

Batistes broccus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 467, 1815, 

New York. 



612 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Monacanthus massachusettensis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Pishes, 336, pi. 57, 
fig. 187, 1842, Massachusetts Bay; Stoker, Hist. Fish., Mass. 231, 
pi. XXIV, fig. 4, 1867. 

Monacanthus setifer De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 337, pi. 59, fig. 194, 
1842, New York Harbor; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 4, 
1879. 

Monacanthus broccus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 335, pi. 56, fig. 183, 
1842; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 856, 1883. 

Monacanthus Mspidus Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 133, 1888; 19th Rep. 
Cbmm. Fish. N. Y. 241, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 369, 1897; 
H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 104, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 1715, 1898, pi. CCLIX, fig. 635, 1900; Bean, 
52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 107, 1900, Great South Bay. 

Body rather deep, the length being one and three fourths times 
the depth and three and two fifths times the length of the head; 
jaws subequal; eyes large, more than one third length of snout; 
gill opening about as long as eye, separated from the eye by an 
interspace nearly equal to its length; anterior profile slightly 
concave; dorsal spine somewhat shorter than snout, inserted 
above posterior part of eye, stout, rough, armed behind with two 
rows of retrorse barbs; first ray of soft dorsal sometimes fila- 
mentous, one half of total length without caudal; pectorals small, 
one half length of snout; pelvic bone long, ending in a short, 
blunt, movable spine, beyond which the abdominal flap does not 
extend; length of free edge of flap when expanded not greater 
than diameter of eye; scales minute, each with a crest of about 
three prickles, those on the caudal peduncle villous, those on the 
ventral flap larger, elongate; no naked areas; recurved spines on 
tail. Length 10 inches. D. 1-32 to 33; A. 32 to 33; P. 15. 

Dull greenish mottled with darker; fins olivaceous, somewhat 
blotched. Massachusetts bay to tropical seas; abundant on our 
South Atlantic coast. Also found through the West Indies to 
Brazil, in the Canaries and Madeira. 

Mitchill and De Kay both recorded the filefish from New York, 
where it was not uncommon in summer. 

This fish is taken in Gravesend bay in moderate numbers 
occasionally in the fall. Individuals were sent from there in 
September and November 1897. Some were living in a tropical 
tank and feeding freely on December 11. A single specimen was 
taken at Point of Woods, Great South bay, Aug. 16, 1898, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 613 

In the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, it 
occurs every year; some years rather scarce, some years abun- 
dant. In 1897 it was extremely numerous in July and August, 
and several hundred were often taken in one day in the seine. 
It may often be obtained under gulf weed, but is usually most 
plentiful in eelgrass and rockweed. No large fish are observed, 
the size ranging from 1 inch to nearly 4 inches. The smallest 
are rather uniformly dull brownish or greenish yellow in color, 
but those 3 or 4 inches long are mottled with white and several 
shades of dark green. In aquaria, small filefish often annoy 
and injure other fish, biting their fins, eyes, and other parts. 

At Beesley's Point N. J. the writer seined an individual, Aug. 
23, 1887, which had several parasites attached to the fins. 

Genus alutera Cuvier 
Body oblong or rather elongate, strongly compressed, covered 
with minute, rough scales; mouth and teeth essentially as in 
Monacanthus, but the lower jaw more projecting, so that 
the lower teeth are directed obliquely upward and backward; 
gill opening an oblique slit, longer than eye, situated below and 
in advance of eye, its posterior end behind base of pectorals; 
pelvic bone long, falcate, movable under the skin, without spine 
at its extremity; dorsal spine small, inserted over the eye, rough, 
but without barbs; soft dorsal and anal long, each of 36 to 50 
rays; caudal fin convex; pectorals small. 

Subgenus ceratacanthus Gill 

297 Alutera schoepfii (Walbaum) 

Orange Filefish 

Batistes schoepfii Walbaum, Art. Gen. Pise. 461, 1792, Long Island, 
Batistes aurantiacus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 468, pi. VI, 

fig. 1, 1815, New York; adult. 
Batistes cuspicauda Mitchell, Am. Month. Mag. II, 326, March, 1818, 

New York; young. 
Al uteres cuspicauda De Kay, X. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 338, pi. 59, fig. 192, 

1842, New York; young. 
Monacanthus aiirantiacns Gttnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 254, 1870. 
Alutera sclioepffi Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat Mus. 858, 1883; 

Beax, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 134, 1888. 



614 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Alutera schoepfli Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 3, 1879; Bean, 
Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 369, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. P. 
F. G. 1897, 104, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
1718, 1898, pi. COLX, fig. 636, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. 
State Mus. 107, 1900. 

Body oblong, rather elongate, narrowed posteriorly; the great- 
est depth four ninths or nearly one half of total length without 
caudal; least depth of caudal peduncle nearly one third length of 
head. Profile of head very oblique; space between dorsals al- 
most horizontal ; ventral outline convex. Head short, its length 
contained three and one fourth times in total without caudal; 
the gill opening oblique, two and one half times as long as the 
eye; eye small, one fifth as long as the head; twice its own diam- 
eter from top of head, and placed far back over the posterior part 
of the gill opening; snout one fourth of total length without cau- 
dal; mouth very small, the lower jaw prominent. Dorsal spine 
slender, varying greatly in length, placed over the eye. Inter- 
space between the dorsals as long as the head. Base of second 
dorsal one third of total length without caudal; the longest dor- 
sal ray equals one third length of dorsal base; the outline of the 
fin greatly convex. Caudal moderately long in adult, rounded 
behind, much produced in young; the middle rays in adult as 
long as the snout. Anal similar to soft dorsal, but extending 
farther back, its base somewhat longer than dorsal base, its 
longest rays equal to longest of dorsal. Pectoral short, one 
third as long as the head. Scales minute, shagreenlike, uniform 
over the body. D. I, 36; A. 38. 

Coloration nearly uniform dirty olive gray, varying to orange 
yellow, often, specially when young, mottled above with darker 
bluish or dull orange; caudal sometimes dusky, edged with white, 
usually dull yellowish in the adult. Length 24 inches. 

The orange filefish is found from Cape Cod to the Gulf of 
Mexico, the young usually abundant every summer on the south 
shore of Long Island and in the bays. 

The young are rather common in Gravesend bay in August, 
September, October, and sometimes as late as November. Adults 
are rarely seen. The species will not survive the winter except 



FISHES OF 'NEW YORK 615 

in warmed water. It feeds freely when the temperature is agree- 
able. 

Young individuals were obtained in 1898 at the ocean beach, 
Southampton, Long Island, August 3, Islip, August 18, and Fire 
Island inlet, September 16. No adults were seen; the largest 
example was about 9 inches long. In 1901, an adult was ob- 
tained from Watts' s pound, in Clam Pond cove, August 13, and 
another was speared in Fire Island inlet, August 1; no young 
were observed. 

At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, it is rather com- 
mon every year in August and September. The largest are 18 
inches long, the smallest 3 inches. ,The position constantly as- 
sumed in the aquarium is with the head down. Succulent algae 
are often eaten by the fish in captivity, the long branches of some 
species being bitten off and swallowed in a surprisingly short 
time. The color of the young is a dirty white, with large reddish- 
brown mottlings or blotches; the larger are orange-colored with 
the same mottlings as when young. 

The species is seldom found north of Cape Cod. An individual 

taken at Forest Eiver lead works, Salem, Mass. Aug. 9, 1845, 

was preserved in the museum of the Essex institute. At Somers 

Point N. J., a few young were found in August and September, 

but the adults were absent. This is called sunfish at Somers 

Point. 

Suborder ostracodermi 

Trunkflshes 
Family ostraciidae 
Genus lactophrys Swainson 
Trunkfishes with the carapace three-angled, the ventral sur- 
face flat or concave, never carinate; carapace closed behind the 
anal fin; carapace with or without frontal and abdominal spines; 
dorsal rays nine or 10; caudal rays always 10. This genus con- 
tains five species, four of them American, and differs from the 
Old World genus Ostracion only in the form of the cara- 
pace. The median dorsal ridge of the carapace is much more 
developed than the others, so that the body is three-sided and 



616 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

three-angled, instead of four-sided and four-angled, as in 
Ostracion. Though this character is a striking one it 
is not one of high structural importance. Hollard and Bleeker 
have discarded it as being of no real systematic value. All 
writers agree that the species of the group are most closely 
related, and that the relations of the species are closer than 
they appear. We think, with Dr Goode, that the shape of the 
carapace affords " the most reliable guide in the arrangement 
of the species of the genus," and we think it not improper to 
accord generic distinction to. the three-angled species, as dis- 
tinct from the more specialized four-angled forms. Jordan and 
Evermann. 

298 Lactophrys trigonus (Linnaeus) 

Subgenus lactophrys 

Trunkfish; Cuckold 

Ostracium trigonus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 330, 1758. 

Ostracium trigonum Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 853, 

1883. 
Ostracion trigonus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 256, 1870. 
Gstracion yalei Storer, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. I, 353, pi. 8, 1837, Holmes 

Hole, Marthas Vineyard. 
Lactophrys yalei De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 342, 1842, after Storer; 

Storer, Mem. Am. Ac. VIII, 429, pi. 35, fig. 3, 1861. 
Lactophrys trigonus Foey, Memorias, II, 362, 1861; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. IX, 369, 1897; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 1723, 1898, pi. CCLXIII, fig, 641, 641a, 1900; H. M. Smith, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. 1897, 104, 1898. 

Body three-angled and with greatly compressed, thin edges; 
the greatest height one half of total length without the caudal. 
The caudal peduncle long and slender, its least depth three 
fourths diameter of eye. Each ventral ridge with a large, flat 
spine; no spine in front of eyes. Dorsal ridge high, greatly 
compressed, descending rapidly forward to opposite posterior 
margin of orbit and backward to caudal peduncle; carapace 
open behind the dorsal fin. Eye one third as long as the head; 
a pronounced supraoccipital ridge, the interorbital space exceed- 
ing diameter of eye. Dorsal base five sixths as long as the 
eye; longest dorsal ray one half as long as head. Anal farther 
back than dorsal and somewhat smaller. Length of gill open- 
ing not equal to eye. 

D. 10; A. 10; P. 12. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 617 

Four teeth in each side of lower jaw. 

Color olive gray or brownish; a faint bine spot in the center 
of each of most of the scales; nostril in a yellow spot; boun- 
daries of upper scutes blackish, of lower bluish; outlines of 
various scutes behind gill opening black, forming a dusky area, 
specially distinct in the young; a similar smaller dusky area 
on side on level of eye; iris yellow; fins all pale olive; vent yel- 
low; belly light olive, outlines of the scutes bluish; base of 
pectorals yellowish. 

The trunkfish reaches the length of about 1 foot; it is com- 
mon in the West Indies, the Bermudas, and the eastern part of 
the Gulf of Mexico, occasionally migrating northward in sum- 
mer under gulf weed as far as Cape Cod. Dr Storer had it from 
Holmes Hole, on Marthas Vineyard. Dr H. M. Smith records 
no adults from the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. but young indi- 
viduals are not uncommon and are taken every year. They are 
found from July to October. On quiet days they are seen, singly 
or in scattered bodies, in the eelgrass about the wharves. The 
largest specimens secured by Dr Smith are 1 inch .long, and the 
smallest J inch. They are taken under the gulf weed, in sur- 
face tow nets and in shore seines. Several dozen have been 
obtained at one seine haul. 

De Kay knew the fish only from the description by Dr Storer. 

The only individual taken in Gravesend bay was found in 
August 1897; it was f inch long. The fish lived a very short 
time in a balanced jar, though it appeared to feed freely upon 
minced hard clam. 

Suborder gymnodontes 
Family tetraodontidae 

Puffers 
Genus lagocephalus Swains on 

Body comparatively elongate; skin smooth or variously 
prickly, the prickles most developed on the abdomen; abdomen 
capable of very great inflation. Dorsal and anal rather long, 
falcate, of 12 to 15 rays each; caudal lunate. Nostril without 
distinct papilla, each one with two distinct openings; mucous 



618 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

tubes on upper part of head and on sides of body very conspic- 
uous. Lower side of tail with a fold. Species reaching a rather 
large size, chiefly tropical, one of them, L. lagocephalus 
L., reaching the coasts of southern Europe. Vertebrae in 
increased number (about 8+13=21). The increased number of 
vertebrae and of rays in the vertical fins mark a transition 
toward the allied family, Chonerhinidae, in which there 
are about 29 vertebrae, the dorsal rays about 35, the anal 30. 

299 Lagocephalus laevigatus (Linnaeus) 
Smooth Puffer; Rabbitfish 

Tetrodon laevigatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, 411, 1766, Charleston, 

S. C; Mitchell, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 28, 1814; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

Mus. VIII, 274, 1870'. 
Tetraodon laevigatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 329, pi. 56, fig. 182, 

1842. 
Tetrodon curvus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 474, 1815; 

New York; young. 
Tetrodon matliematicus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 474, 

pi. VI, fig. 6, 1815. 
Lagocephalus laevigatus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 860, 

1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 133, 1888; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. 

Hist. IX, 369, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 104, 1898; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1728, 1898, pi. 

CCLXIII, fig. 642, 1900; Sherwood & Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

1901, 30, 1901. 

Body elongate, stout, its depth about one fourth or two ninths 
of total length without the caudal. Caudal peduncle rather 
slender, tapering, its least depth about equal to diameter of eye. 
Head short, very obtuse in front, its length two sevenths of 
total without the caudal. Mouth very small, terminal. Nostrils 
midway between eye and tip of snout. Snout twice as long as 
the eye, which is one fourth as long as the head, and two thirds 
of width of interorbital space. Dorsal and anal fins opposite, 
about midway between eye and origin of middle caudal rays; 
each fin on a fleshy base. Base of dorsal two sevenths as long 
as the head; longest dorsal ray about one half as long as the 
head. Anal equal in size to dorsal. Caudal fin lunate, the 
middle rays as long as the snout; fold of skin on side of tail 
very distinct. Back and sides smooth; belly prickly, the spinous 
region extending backward from the throat nearly to the vent 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 619 

and on the sides as high as the base of the pectoral; spines 
rather large, three-rooted, well separated, and with no smaller 
ones intermixed. Pectoral short and deep, its longest rays 
nearly one half as long as the head. 

D. 14; A. 12; P. 15. 

Upper parts greenish, sides and lower parts silvery white; no 
distinct markings. 

The smooth puffer is a common resident of tropical seas, on 
our coast ranging from Cape Cod to Brazil. It reaches a length 
of 2 feet. According to Parra its flesh is poisonous. No recent 
observations have been recorded, however, on this subject. 

In the waters of Cape Cod the species is not common though 
a few specimens are taken annually in traps in Buzzards bay 
and Vineyard sound, chiefly in September and October. The 
young are not found at all, the individuals observed being 11 
or 12 inches long. During 1900 several specimens were taken 
in the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. The Rhode Island Fish Com- 
mission secured three specimens in Narragansett bay, the larg- 
est weighing 10 pounds. 

Occasionally taken in the fall in Gravesend bay. Five young 
were obtained in October 1897, but all of them died in November, 
notwithstanding that they had been taking food readily. The 
temperature could not be endured. 

Though this fish was unknown to the fishermen met in Great 
Egg Harbor bay in 1887, it was moderately common there, 13 
examples having been taken from August 27 to September 18. 
It has the same habit as the swellfish of inflating its abdomen. 

Genus spheroides Lacepede 
Body oblong, not elongate; skin variously prickly or smooth, 
sometimes with cirri. A single, short, simple nasal tube on 
each side, with two rather large openings near its tip. Dorsal 
and anal fins short, little falcate, of six to eight rays each; 
caudal truncate or rounded, rarely slightly concave. Vertebrae 
8 + 10 = 18. Frontal bones expanded sidewise and forming the 
lateral roof of the orbit, the postfrontals limited to the pos- 
terior portions. Species numerous, in warm seas; largely 



620 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

American. Our species represent two well marked subgenera, 
the extremes of which appear very different from each other so 
far as the skulls are concerned. Some of the typical species of 
Spheroides approach Canthig aster in the narrow- 
ness of the frontal area. 

Subgenus spheroides 

300 Spheroides maculatus (Bloch & Schneider) 

Swellfish; Puffer 

Tetrodon Mspidus var. maculatus Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Iclith. 504, 
1801, Long Island. 

Tetrodon turgidus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 473, pi. VI, 
fig. 5, 1815, New York; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 285, 
1<870; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, XL S. Nat. Mus. 861, 1883; Bean, 
Bull. U. S. F. 0. VII, 133, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y., 242, 
1890. 

Tetraodon turgidus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 327, pi. 55, fig. 178, 
1842. 

Spheroides maculatus Jordan & Edwards, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 232, 
1886; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 369, 1897; H..M. Smith, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 104, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 1733, pi. CGLXIV, fig. 645, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. 
Rep. N. Y: State Mus. 108, 1900. 

Body fusiform, thick, its width and depth about equal and 
one third of total length without the caudal. Head moderately 
large, three eighths of the length without caudal. Eye small, 
about two fifths of interorbital width and one ninth as long 
as the head. Snout long, four sevenths as long as the head. 
Interorbital space slightly concave; profile not steep, depressed 
in front of the eyes. Dorsal origin twice as far from middle of 
eye as from base of middle caudal rays; base of dorsal fin as 
long as the eye; longest ray one third as long as the head. Anal 
origin under the end of dorsal base, the fin about equal to 
dorsal. Caudal convex, the middle rays two fifths as Ion;? as 
the head. Pectoral deep, but short, its upper rays three eighths 
as long as the head. Distance of nostrils from front of eye one 
half their distance from tip of snout. Sides of head and body 
always prickly; back prickly from upper lip to base of dorsal; 
belly prickly from lower lip to vent; prickles all similar, small, 
mostly three-rooted, stiff and close set, rather largest pos- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 621 

teriorly on back and belly, never obsolete; sides without cirri. 
D. 7; A. 6;C. 7; P, 3 6. 

Color darkish olive green on the upper part of the head, body 
and tail, with a yellowish tinge along the sides. Sides and 
under surface white. Along the sides from beneath the eye to 
the caudal fin is an indefinite series of six to eight oblong black 
blotches, which occasionally take the appearance of transverse 
bars. De Kay observed some individuals which were nearly a 
uniform black above. Caudal fin nearly uniform pale, the tip 
darker. 

The swellfish inhabits the Atlantic coast from Cape Ann to 
Florida; it grows to a length of 10 inches. In most localities 
the fish is not eaten, but at Somers Point N. J. certain persons 
professed to find in it excellent food qualities. De Kay states 
that the species is scarcely ever eaten in New York. 

This species is known also by the additional names, puffer, 
blower, eggfish, swelltoad, sucking toad, toadfish (at Somers 
Point N. J.) It is the puffer and toadfish of Mitchill's Fishes 
of New York. 

The swellfish is extremely abundant about the eastern end 
of Long Island, and is caught by hundreds at a time in pound 
nets during the summer. The writer has taken it at the follow- 
ing localities in Great South bay: Fire Island inlet, Oak Island 
beach, Clam Pond cove, Islip, Cherry Grove, Nichols's Point, 
Blue Point. In Gravesend bay the species is found at all times 
except during the cold months; it is hardy in captivity, but 
can not be kept with other fish because of its predatory habits. 

In the vicinity of Woods Hole, according to Dr Smith, it ap- 
pears about June first, and is abundant during the run of scup. 
It is common throughout the summer at the head of Buzzards 
bay. The spawning season is June 1 to 10. From about July 1 
to October 15, the young, from ^ inch to 1 inch long, are ex- 
tremely abundant at Woods Hole, frequenting chiefly sandy 
beaches, where as many as 100 are often taken in one seine 
haul. The fish leaves as soon as cold weather sets in. 



622 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The name swellfish is derived from its habit of inflating 
itself by means of air or water. It can be made to inflate itself 
by scratching its belly. During the process of inflation the fish 
makes a sucking sound, from which doubtless comes the Chesa- 
peake bay name of " sucking toad." Mitchill gives the follow- 
ing account of the inflation: 

The air is inhaled with a sucking or swilling noise. When 
received into the cavity it is confined there by a valve in the 
throat. This valve is so strong and so tight that not a particle 
of air can escape. The hardness equals that of a football, and 
the fish will bear to be kicked about without discharging it. I 
have seen them stamped upon and still retain their charge of 
air. I have known them to bounce from the surface of a rock, 
against which they have been thrown, as turgid as ever. And 
it is a piece of sport, common enough among fishermen, to burst 
them between two stones, when the air is let loose with a noise 
almost equal to the report of a pistol. 

The habit of inflation is a protective one. By means of it the 
fish can readily escape from the closed hand unless particular 
effort is made to retain it. When the abdomen is inflated the 
swellfish often remains on the surface of the water, and is 
driven by wind and tide till it desires to sink, when the air is 
suddenly discharged and the abdomen returns to its normal 
state. 

It often takes a baited hook, notwithstanding the small size 
of its mouth and its clumsy teeth. 

Subgenus cheilichthys Mtiller 

301 Spheroides testudineus (Linnaeus) 

Globefish; Blow fish 

Tetrodon testudineus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 332, 1758; Gunther, Cat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII,' 282, 1870; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 861, 1883. 

Spheroides testudineus Jordan & Edwards, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 239, 

1886. 
Spheroides testudineus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
1734, 1898, pi. OCLXV, fig. 646, 646a, 1900. 

Body fusiform, subterete, moderately elongate, its greatest 
width and depth equal, and two sevenths of total length with- 
out caudal. Caudal peduncle comparatively stout, its least 
depth one third length of head, the width not decreasing rapidly 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 623 

toward tlie base of the caudal. Head one third of total length 
without caudal; eye sinall^ its length nearly one fourth length 
of snout and nearly one seventh that of head; inter orbital 
width two fifths length of head; nostrils one diameter of the 
eye in advance of eye. Gill opening one fourth length of head. 
Origin of dorsal fin twice as far from front of eye as from root 
of middle caudal rays. Dorsal base one fifth as long as the 
head, two fifths as long as longest dorsal ray. Anal origin 
slightly behind dorsal origin, the anal fin a little smaller than 
the dorsal, and mostly opposite to it. Caudal slightly concavo- 
convex, the lower lobe a little the longer, the middle rays two 
thirds as long as the head. Pectoral very deep but short, its 
longest ray two fifths as long as the head. Lateral line begin- 
ning behind the nostril, extending under the nostril to the mid- 
dle of the snout, thence curving back on the cheek, ascending 
below and behind eye in a broad curve, its highest point on the 
level of the eye, to the middle of the caudal peduncle and thence 
nearly straight to the base of the caudal. Small, sparsely set 
prickles on back from nape to about middle of total length; 
larger, closely set prickles on belly from throat to vent, extend- 
ing up to lower edge of pectoral fin; these prickles rarely 
obscure or absent; sides sometimes with cirri. 

Back dark brownish or grayish and with whitish narrow 
curved lines and streaks, one of these usually a rhomb in the 
middle of the back surrounded by a long ellipse which often 
contains also a short crescentic streak. Two half ellipses on 
posterior part of back between dorsal and caudal fins. Two 
pale streaks across the interorbital space. Entire body and 
head, except back and belly, profusely covered with roundish 
black spots, the largest smaller than the pupil. A dark bar at 
base of pectoral. Caudal dusky at base, then pale, the posterior 
half blackish. D. 8; A. 7; C. 10; P. 15. 

The globefish abounds in the West Indies, occasionally 
ascending rivers, and sometimes ranging northward in the Gulf 
Stream as far as Newport R. I. No specimens have yet been 
recorded from New York waters, but its occurrence is to be 



624 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

expected in bays of the south side of Long Island. The species 
reaches the length of 7 or 8 inches ; it is known in Cuba as the 
Tambor. 

302 Spheroides trichocephalus (Cope) 

Hairy Blow fish 

Tetrodon trichocephalus Cope, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 120', 1870, Gulf 

Stream off Newport, R. I.; Jobdan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 862, 1883. 
Sphacroides trichocephalus Jordan & Edwabds, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 236, 

1886. 
Spheroides trichocephalus Jobdan & Evebmann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

1737, 1898. 

Head two sevenths of total length; eye two sevenths as long 
as the head; inter orbital width four fifths diameter of eye. 
Profile suddenly descending from prefrontal region to premaxil- 
lary, arched from the former point backward; belly spinous to 
near vent; dorsal region spinous from a little behind the nares 
to above the ends of the pectoral fins; spines on the head long, 
close set, like seal bristles; caudal fin truncate, with prominent 
angles. 

D. 8; A. 7. 

Brownish above, faintly vermiculated with lighter; sides yel- 
lowish, becoming white below; fins uniform light yellow; a 
brown spot at base of pectoral. (After Cope) 

The hairy blowfish is known only from the small specimen 
4 inches long described by Professor Cope; the specimen was 
taken in the Gulf Stream off Newport. Jordan and Evermann 
suggest that it may be the young of Spheroid e s p a c h y - 
g a s t e r (Muller & Troschel), from Barbados. Possibly it may 
be nearer to S. n e p h e 1 u s (Goode & Bean), Proc. U. S. Nat. 
Mus., 412, 1882, a southern species known from Georgia to 
Texas. 

No specimens have been recorded from waters of New York. 

Family diodontidae 
Porcupine Fishes 
Genus trichodiodon Bleeker , 

Body oblong, little depressed; nasal tentacle present; dermal 
ossifications very small, each with a pair of lateral roots, and 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 625 

each terminating in a fine, flexible, bristlelike spine; fins as in 
D i o d o n , of which the species are possibly the very young. 

303 Trichodiodon pilosus (Mitchill) 
Hairy Porcupine Fish 

Diodon pilosus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 471, pi. VI, fig. 

4, 1815; supposed to be from New York Harbor; specimen 1% inches 

long. 
Trichodiodon pilosus Gtjnthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 316, 1870; 

Joedan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 862, 1883, name but 

probably not description which is from De Kay; Joedan & Evee- 

mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1743, 1898. 

Mitchill's description as given by Jordan and Evermann is as 
follows: "Hairy diodon (Diodon pilosus), with a cov- 
ering of bristly hair. Length about 1J inches ; breadth less than 
J inch; depth nearly a quarter, making a blunt lump of a fish; 
covered all over — back, sides, head and belly — with bristly 
hair. The bristles strong and flexible, without the power to 
scratch or to prick; hair about -J inch in length. Complexion 
dun or brown, with spots on the back, sides, and toward the 
belly; has, at first glimpse, the appearance of a young mouse. 
Mouth small, midway, and horizontal. Eyes vertical, lateral, 
and large. No ventral fins. Pectorals broad. Dorsal and anal 
very far back, and no hair between them and the tail. This is 
but a small projection from the thick and clumsy body, and is 
terminated by a fin of seven rays. Dorsal, anal, and pectoral 
fins contain each about 13 rays." 

Giinther (Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus., VIII, 316, 1870) describes a 
young example, £ inch long, and by some authors supposed to 
be of the same species as Mitchill's hairy diodon, as follows: 
" Trichocyclus. Jaws without median suture. Body covered 
with long, hairlike bristles. No nasal tentacle. (Dorsal and 
anal fins absent ?). 1. T r i c h o c yclus erinaceus. 

Owing to the indifferent preservation of the specimen, I can 
give but an incomplete description of it. It is J inch long, and 
the longest hairs (which are those on the sides) about | inch. 
The entire body, except the snout, is covered with such hairs. 
The jaws are prominent, depressed; and the upper terminates 



026 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

in a slight hook, overlapping the lower jaw. The caudal fin 
is distinct, and the pectoral a narrow fringe behind the gill 
opening; but I am unable to find a trace of the dorsal and anal 
fins." Habitat unknown. 

Under the name Diodon pilosus De Kay describes and 
figures a specimen 2 inches long which he considered identical 
with the Diodon pilosus of Mitchill, but which may be 
the young of Diodon hystrix, a species not yet recorded 
in New York waters. 

Genus chilomycterus Bibron 
Body broad, depressed, moderately inflatable. Dermal spines 
short, stout, immovable, triangular, each with three roots; 
nasal tube simple, with two lateral openings; the tube some- 
times rounded, sometimes flattened, and with the partition 
feeble and easily torn so that the tentacle appears divided; 
caudal peduncle short; fins small, formed as in Diodon; jaws 
without median suture. Species numerous, of smaller size than 
those of Diodon, the spines broader and lower, their bases 
forming a coat of mail. 

Subgenus cyclichthys Kaup 

304 Chilomycterus schoepfi (Walbaum) 

Spiny Booofish; Burfish; Cucumherfish 

Diodon schoepfi Walbatjm, Art. Gen. Pise. 601, 1792, Long Island. 
Diodon maculostriatus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 470, 

pi. VI, fig. 3, 1815, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 323, 

pi. 56, fig. 185, 1842. 
Diodon rivulatus Ouviee, Mem. Mus. Hist. Nat. IV, 129, pi. 6, 1818, New 

lork. 
Diodon nigrolineatus Ayres, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, 68, 1842, Brook- 
haven, Long Island. 
Chilomycterus geometricus Gtjnther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 310, 1870; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 863, 1883; Bean, Bull. 

U. S. F. C. VII, 132, 1888. 
Chilomycterus schoepfii Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 369, 1897. 
Chilomycterus schoepfi Jordan and Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

1748, 1898, pi. GCLXVI, fig. 649, 1900; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

1897, 105, 1898. 

Body elliptic, a little broader than deep at gill openings, the 
depth four ninths of total length without caudal. Caudal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 627 

peduncle very short, one third as long as the head, its least depth 
one half of its greatest depth, and less than diameter of eye. 
Eye placed high, one fourth as long as the head, about equal to 
width of gill opening; interorbital space broad, concave. Snout 
nearly equal to eye. A cirrus, longer than pupil, above each 
eye. Origin of dorsal four times as far from tip of snout as 
from base of middle caudal rays. Dorsal base one third as long 
as the head; longest dorsal ray one half as long as the head. 
Anal immediately under the dorsal and about equal to it in size. 
Caudal rounded, the middle rays as long as the postorbital part 
of the head. Pectoral one half as long as the head, its depth 
when expanded six sevenths of length of head. A small cirrus 
on chin. About nine spines between eye and tail, their hight 
about two thirds diameter of eye; spines on belly much smaller, 
partly embedded in skin; some of the posterior with cirri; spines 
on caudal peduncle; anterior root of each spine little if any larger 
than others. D. 12; A. 10; C. 9; P. 20. 

Color of a living specimen as given by De Kay: "Bright sea 
green above, with longitudinal olive-brown irregular stripes on 
the back and upper part of the sides; on the cheeks, below the 
eyes, these stripes are oblique; transverse across the snout, and 
sloping downward over the fleshy portion of the tail. The large 
olive-brown spots are irregularly rounded, occasionally ap- 
proaching a quadrate form, and eight in number; one on each 
side, above the base of the pectorals, of an oblong oval form; 
one on each flank, behind and partially covered by the pectoral, 
irregularly subquadrate; one on each side of the base of the 
dorsal, ascending upon that fin; this is considered by Cuvier as 
a single spot; finally a small oblong spot on each side, about 
midway between the dorsal fin and the vent. Abdomen light- 
colored, with a light tinge of pink. Spines on this portion of 
the body inclining to orange. Pupils dark greenish; irides 
yellow." Other writers speak of the spots and stripes as of a 
black color, and state that the belly is often black in the young. 

The spiny boxfish grows to the length of ten inches. It is 
found on our coast from Cape Cod to Florida. The body is, 



G2S NEW YORK STATE' MUSEUM 

capable of considerable inflation, but less than in the common 
swellfish. 

A young example, 3 inches long, seined at Longport N. J. 
Aug. 29, 1887, is much less elongate than the adult, and has the 
orbital tentacles greatly developed. The black spot which is 
present near the anal origin in the adult is absent in the young. 
The species is known as " Cucumberfish " at Somers Point N. J. 
It takes the hook. The fish is found occasionally in small num- 
bers from May to October in Gravesend bay, but no very small 
ones are seen. It lives in the aquarium in winter only in water 
heated to a temperature of 68° to 70° F. 

305 Chilomycterus fuliginosus (De Kay) 

Burfisn; Unspotted Balloonfi&h 

Diodon fuliginosiis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 324, pi. 55, fig,. 181, 1842, 
New York Harbor; Baird, Ninth Ann. Rep. Smith Inst. 351, 1855, 

Great Egg Harbor River, N. J.. 
Chilomycterus geometricus subsp. (?) fuliginosiis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 

16, U. S, Nat. Mus. 864, 1883. 
Chilomycterus fuliginvsus Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 133, 1888; 19th Rep. 

Coram. Fish. N. Y. 243, 1890. 

The following is the original description of the species: 

Body subcubical, rather more slender toward the tail. 
Irregular series of triangular spines on the upper surface, the 
extremities of which, in the living animal, are furnished with 
long strips of membrane. Similar spines, but more numerous, 
smaller and recurved, on the abdomen. Three spines over each 
orbit, and another equidistant between each orbit. Lips fleshy 
and susceptible of being drawn over the teeth. Three or four 
minute barbels under the chin. Pectorals short and broad, with 
a slightly sinuous margin; the upper rays longest. Dorsal 
placed far back, and obtusely pointed. The anal fin long, placed 
on an elongated fleshy base. Tail slender, supporting a lanceo- 
late caudal fin. All the fins exceedingly feeble and delicate. 

Color. Above dark olive-green, tinged with brown, with 
meandering dusky lines. . . chin yellowish white. Abdomen 
black; but the bases of the spines are bright orange, which so 
far predominates as to give this color to the whole underside. 

Length, 2 inches. Depth and transverse diameter, 1 inch. 
Fin rays, D. 14; P. 22; A. 8; C. 9. 

This species, which might be mistaken for the young of the 
preceding, [the spot-striped balloonfish] is readily distinguished 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 629 

by its lanceolate tail. . . Tlie specimen which furnished me 
with the above description was found in a net in the harbor of 
New York in the latter part of October. 

By some ichthyologists this has been considered the young of 
the common C. geometricus, but by Drs Goode and Bean, 
who base their opinion on a specimen taken at Block Island and 
the example found in Great South bay in 1884, near the Blue 
Point Lifesaving station, it is accepted as a valid species. Pro- 
fessor Baird recognized it also in Great Egg Harbor river, N. J. 
in 1854. 

The following is a recent description: 

Entire body covered with large three-rooted spines, which are 
numerous and close set, specially on the belly; spines of the 
belly as large or even larger than those on the back; not 
embedded. D. 12; A. 10. 

Dark brownish olive above, with wavy dusky lines; belly black, 
the base of the spines bright orange. Atlantic coaslj, from Cape 
Cod southward; not common. 

Family molidae 

Headfishes 
Genus mola Cuvier 
Body ovate, strongly compressed, covered with a thick, rough, 
leathery, elastic skin, which is without bony plates. Profile 
forming a projecting fleshy nose above the mouth. Dorsal fin 
beginning not far behind pectorals, short and high, falcate, con- 
fluent with the anal around the tail; no large spines on the body. 
Clumsy fishes, found in most warm seas, reaching a great size; 
the young ( M o 1 a c a n t h u s ) with the body deeper, much 
compressed, without trace of caudal fin, its place taken by a row 
of marginal spines. 

306 Mola mola (Linnaeus) 

Sun fish; Mola; Hea elfish 

Tetrodon mola Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 334, 412, 1758, Mediterranean. 
Gephalus breuis Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soe. N. Y. I, 471, 1815. 
Diodon carinatus Mitchill, Ann. Lye. Nat. Hist. N. Y. II, 264, pi. 5, fig. 1, 

1815, New York; young. 
Acantlwsoma carinatum De Kay. N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 330, pi. 55. fig. 1X9., 

1842. 



030 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

OrthcKjoriscus mola Stoker, Rep. Ichth. Mass. 170, pi. 3, fig. 1, 1839; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 331, pi. 59, fig. 193, 1842, New York 

Bay; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 226, pi. XXXIV, fig. 2, 1867; Gunthek, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. VIII, 317, 1870. 
OrtluKjoriscus analis Ayres, Proc. Cal. Ac. Sci. II, 31, fig. 54, 1854, San 

Francisco. 
Mola rotunda Cuvier, Tableau Elena. Nat. Hist. 323, 1798, fide Jordan & 

Evermann; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 3, 1879; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 865, 1883. 
Mola mola Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1753, 1898, 

pi. CCLXVII, fig. 651, 1900; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 105, 

1898, Vineyard Sound. 

The length of the head is one third of the length of the body 
which is one and three fifths times the depth of the body; dorsal 
and anal fins high in front, rapidly decreased backwards; caudal 
fin low, and with a wavy outline; depth always more than half 
length, and in the young the vertical diameter exceeding the 
longitudinal; form varying with age, the body becoming more 
elongate, the fins comparatively shortened, the eye much smaller, 
and a hump being developed above the mouth, topped by an 
osseous tubercle. D. 17; A. 16. 

Dark gray; sides grayish brown, with silvery reflections, belly 
dusky; a broad blackish bar running along the bases of the dor- 
sal, caudal, and anal fins. Pelagic, inhabiting most temperate 
and tropical seas, swimming slowly near the surface, with the 
high dorsal fin exposed. 

It ranges northward to San Francisco, Cape Ann, and Eng- 
land, occurring rarely in the West Indies. The Essex Institute 
has a specimen which was taken in Salem harbor in the summer 
of 1863. An individual, 4 feet long, was caught off Gloucester 
Mass. July 31, 1860. Dr Smith reports it rarer now than formerly 
in the vicinity of Woods Hole, Mass. It was not unusual to 
observe eight or 10 specimens annually in Vineyard Sound, but 
of late not more than one in a season is seen. In 1896 a 400 
pound fish was seen off Tarpaulin Cove. A 200 pound specimen, 
caught off Great Harbor, was kept alive at the station for about 
a week in 1887. The sunfish are usually found there in August. 
Mr V. N. Edwards has opened a number of stomachs and found 
in them only ctenophores and medusae. The largest individual 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 631 

recorded was captured at Redondo Beach, California, in June 
1893; this was 8 feet 2 inches long and weighed 1800 pounds. 
The specimen mentioned by Mitchill and De Kay from lower New 
York bay, within Sandy Hook, was 54 inches long and weighed 
200 pounds. 

The sunfish is not edible. De Kay states that various para- 
sites are frequently found adhering to its body; this is rendered 
easy on account of the sluggish movements of the fish. 

The young sunfish is very different in appearance from the 
adult and has been described under various generic names and 
even referred to a distinct family. 

Suborder loricati 
Mail-oheelted Fishes 
Family scorpaenidae 
Rockfishes 
Group SEBASTINAE 
Genus sebastes Cuvier 
Body oblong, compressed. Head large, scaly above and on 
sides; cranial ridges well developed. Mouth terminal, very 
broad, oblique, the broad, short maxillary extending to below the 
eye; lower jaw projecting, with a bony knob at the symphysis, 
fitting into a rostral notch; villiform teeth on jaws, vomer and 
palatines. Eye very large, close to upper profile, preopercle with 
five diverging spines, opercle with two; suprascapular spines 
strong; gill rakers long, slender. Scales small, ctenoid, irregu- 
larly arranged; no dermal flaps. Dorsal fin continuous, very 
long, the spinous part much longer than the soft part, of 15 
strong spines; anal spines three, strong; caudal emarginate; 
pectorals long, narrow. Branchiostegals seven. Vertebrae 12+ 
19=31. Coloration mostly red. Ovoviviparous. One species 
known, in the North Atlantic. 

307 Sebastes marinus (Linnaeus) 

Rosefish; Norway Haddock 

Perca marina Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 290, 1758, Norway. 
Sebastes norivegicus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 327, 
pi. 87, 1829; Gunthee, Cat Pish. Brit. Mus. II, 95, 1860. 



632 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Sebastes norvegicus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 60, pi. 4, fig. 11, 1842, off 
New York in deep water; Storee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 38, pi. VII, fig. 1, 
1867. 

Sebastes marinus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 14, 1879; Joedan & 
Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 651, 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic 
Ichth. 260, pi. LXIX, fig. 248, 1896; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

1897, 105, 1898; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, 1760, 

1898, pi. CCLXVIII, fig. 653, 1900. 

The depth of the body is contained two and four fifths times 
in the length of the body which is three times the length of the 
head. Body ovate; back elevated, the ventral outline straight- 
ish; top of head evenly scaled; interorbital space with two low 
ridges, between which it is concave; nasal spines present; 
cranial ridges moderate, rather low and sharp; preocular, supra- 
ocular, postocular, tympanic, and occipital ridges present, the 
latter with tips abruptly divergent; suprascapular spines very 
sharp and prominent; opercular spines long and sharp; sub- 
opercular spine prominent; preopercular spines slender and 
sharp, the second longest; suborbital stay not reaching pre- 
opercle; preorbital narrow, with two spines. Eye exceedingly 
large, three in head, more than twice as wide as interorbital 
space. Mouth very large, oblique; maxillary very broad, reach- 
ing middle of eye, its length two and one third in head; pre- 
maxillaries on level of middle of pupil; tip of lower jaw much 
projecting, with a conspicuous, pointed symphyseal knob; mand- 
ible and maxillary scaly; pseudobranchiae very large; gill rakers 
long, stiff and strong. Dorsal spines sharp, the longest about as 
long as eye; the fin deeply emarginate; soft rays not very high, 
higher than the spines; caudal narrow, moderately forked; anal 
spines moderate, graduated; the second a little shorter than eye; 
pectoral rather long, reaching vent, its base narrow; ventral 
reaching vent. Scales small, irregular, not strongly ctenoid. 
Peritoneum brownish. D. XV-13; A. Ill, 7; Lat. 1. 40 (tubes); 
scales about 85. 

Orange-red, nearly uniform, sometimes a dusky opercular 
blotch, and about five vague dusky bars on back. Peritoneum 
brownish. 

The rosefish is abundant at the hundred fathoms line off the 
south coast of New England, and has been found in depths of 






FISHES OF NEW YORK 633 

180 fathoms. It breeds abundantly in late summer at these 
depths, and there is no reason to believe that the young rise to 
the surface. The fry were caught by the bushel in the trawl 
net of the U. S. Fish Commission steamer Fish Hawk. 

The species was originally described from Norway by 
Linnaeus. Cuvier had specimens from Miquelon Newfound- 
land. Day mentions a number of localities of its capture about 
the British Isles, but it is rare south of Faroe Islands. It occurs 
on the southwest coast of Spitzbergen, and on the Norwegian 
coast it is found everywhere from Christiania around to the 
Yaranger-Fiord. It also occurs in Greenland, and from 
Labrador, as a shore form, as far south as Cape Cod, and in 
deeper water as far south as New Jersey. 

In the Woods Hole region it was taken on the shore on Dee. 20, 
1895 in Great Harbor. Seven or eight specimens, 3 inches long, 
were found in a hole on a flat where they had been left by the 
tide; four or five of these had been stranded and were dead; the 
others were alive when captured. Fishermen claim that they 
sometimes catch these fish in traps very late in fall at Province- 
town. (After Smith) 

De Kay has the following remarks upon the fish: 

This is a very rare fish in our waters. It is called by our fisher- 
men red sea perch, and they say it is only found in deep water. 
By the fishermen of Massachusetts it is known under the various 
names of rosefish, hemdurgon and snapper. Fabricius states 
that it is rather agreeable food, but meager. It feeds on floun- 
ders and other fish, and takes the hook readily. 

The species reaches the length of 2 feet; it is frequently to be 
found in the Boston markets and is seen occasionally in the 
markets of New York with the skin removed on account of the 
hard scales. 

Genus helicolenus Goode & Bean 

Body oblong, somewhat compressed; head large, ctenoid 
scales on its top, and on cheeks and opercles; several series of 
spinous ridges on head, but no occipital pit; mouth large, with 
bands of villiform teeth on jaws, vomer and palatines. Dorsal 
fin continuous, not deeply notched, with 10 stout spines and 10 
to 12 rays; anal with three spines and six rays; pectoral broad, 



634 N&W YORK STATE MUSEUM 

fan-shaped, with rays arranged in three groups, the first of two 
simple rays, the second of eight or nine branched rays, the third 
of eight simple rays, sometimes prolonged, with their tips 
tendrillike and free from membrane for one half their length 
or less; soft dorsal with tips free from membrane; suborbital 
keel smooth, or with a single anterior spine under eye; preorbital 
with spines small and hidden beneath the skin. Vertebrae 
10+14=24; no air bladder. Atlantic. 

308 Helicolenus dactylopterus (De la Roche) 
Redfish; Seran Imperial 

Scorpaena dactyloptera De la Roche, Ann. Mus. Paris, XII, 316, 337, pi. 

XXII, fig. 9, 1809, Ivica, Barcelona; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 679, 1883. 
Sebastes dactylopterus Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 99, 1860. 
Sebastoplus dactylopterus Goode & Bean, Bull. Mus. Comp. Zool. X, no. 5, 

214, 1883. 
Helicolenus dactylopterus Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 249, pi. LXVIII, 

fig. 244, 1896; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1837, 

1898. 

De la Roche states that at Ivica this form is found only at 
considerable depths, outside of the regions commonly frequented 
by the fishermen; indeed, that it is very rare, or scarcely at all 
known, in the markets of the towns where the fishermen are not 
in the habit of going far out to sea. He saw many individuals 
taken off Ivi^a at a depth of 260 to 290 meters, and in the vicinity 
of Barcelona saw the same species from a depth of 540 meters. 
At Iviga the species is known as the Seran imperial, and at 
Barcelona as the Fanegal. 

Risso saw specimens at Nice in, which locality of the Mediter- 
ranean it is very common and is known as the Cardonniera. He 
says it grows to a length of 30 centimeters (about 1 foot) and a 
weight of 2 kilograms (4f pounds). It is obtained on rocky bot- 
toms at considerable depths throughout the year, and he has 
observed females full of eggs in summer. The species is recorded 
also from Naples, Genoa, Messina and Catania. 

Capello states that the fish is found off Lisbon, but it is very 
rare and occurs only in summer. Off the coast of France, it has 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 635 

been identified from Marseilles, St Jean de Luz, Biarritz, 
Valence, and Arcachon. 

In the western Atlantic the redfish occurs in numerous locali- 
ties in deep water from Narragansett bay to Chesapeake bay. 

Family cottidae 
Sculpms 

Group COTTINAE 
Genus cottus (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Fresh-water sculpins. Body fusiform. Head feebly armed; 
skin smooth or more or less velvety, its prickles, if present, not 
bony or scalelike; villiform teeth on jaws and vomer, and some- 
times on palatines. Gill openings separated by a wide isthmus, 
over which the membranes do not form a fold; no slit behind 
fourth gill. Branchiostegals six. Dorsals nearly or quite sepa- 
rate, the first of six to nine slender spines, ventrals moderate, 
each with a short, concealed spine and four soft rays. Lateral 
line present, usually more or less chainlike, sometimes incom- 
plete. Preopercle with a simple spine at its angle which is 
usually curved upward, its base more or less covered by skin, 
very rarely obsolete; usually two or three spines turned down- 
ward below this; subopercle usually with a concave spine turned 
downward. Vertebrae 10+23=33. Pyloric caeca about four. 
Fishes of small size, inhabiting clear waters in the northern 
parts of Europe, Asia and America. The species are extremely 
numerous and are very difficult to distinguish, all being very 
similar in form, coloration and habits. 

The species are most destructive to the eggs of salmon and 
trout. 

Subgenus pegedictis 

309 Cottus ictalops (Rafinesque) 

Miller's Th/wmb; Blob 

Pegedictis ictalops Rafinesque, Ichth. Ohien. 85, 1820, spring near Lexing- 
ton, Kentucky. 

Cottus Richardsoni Agassiz, Lake Superior, 300, 1850, Montreal River; 
Girard, Monograph Fresh-Water Cottoids N. A. 39, pi. 1, figs. 1, 2, 
pi. 3, figs. 18-21, 1850; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 158, 1860. 

Cottus Bairdii Girard, Monograph Fresh-Water Cottoids N. A. 44, pi. 1, 
figs. 5, 6, 1850. 



636 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

UrmMea rkhardsonl Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, XL S. Nat. Mus. 696, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 136, pi. 35, fig. 74, 1893. 
Cottus ictalops bairdi' Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IV, 315, 1888. 
Cot l us ictalops Meek, op. cit. IV, 314, 1888; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 1950, 1898. 

Body rather robust, gradually tapering to the tail, the depth 
varying from one fourth to one sixth of the length; the length 
of the head is contained about three and one third times in the 
standard length of the body; long diameter of eye almost equal 
to length of snout; preopercular spine short and sharp, turned 
upward and backward, with two smaller spines below it; skin 
usually smooth, sometimes with minute prickles behind axil of 
pectoral; spinous dorsal begins slightly behind end of head, 
separated from second dorsal by a deep notch; second dorsal 
about two and one third times longer than first, and one third 
longer than anal base which slightly exceeds greatest length of 
head; pectoral, ventral, and caudal fins well developed. 

D. VI-VIII, 16; A. 12-13; V. I, 4. Lateral line conspicuous, 
sometimes wanting on caudal peduncle. 

Color olivaceous, much speckled; sides usually with several 
distinct and rather broad cross bands; fins barred and mottled. 

Bullhead, blob and muffle-jaws are names applied to the 
miller's thumb, which has been associated with Kichardson's 
name. 

The typical Bichardson's miller's thumb is found in the upper 
Great lakes. In general it inhabits the " middle and northern 
states, abounding in all clear, rocky brooks and lakes east of 
the Dakotas and Kansas to New York and Virginia, extending 
southward along the Alleghanies to North Carolina and northern 
Alabama, especially abundant in limestone springs and entering 
caves." 

The U. S. Fish Commission had specimens from Grenadier 
island and Stony island, in the Lake Ontario region, collected 
June 28 and July 3; also from the St Lawrence river, 3 miles 
below Ogdensburg N. Y., July 17, taken by Dr Evermann and 
Mr Bean in 1894. Meek records the species from the southern 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 637 

end of Cayuga lake. It is extremely variable in size, color and 

length of fins and number of rays. 

This species grows to a length of 7 inches under favorable 

circumstances and is one of the most destructive enemies of the 

eggs and young of brook trout and other members of the salmon 

family. 

Genus uranidea De Kay 

This genus is very close to C o 1 1 u s , from which it differs in 
the reduction of its ventrals to a concealed spine and three soft 
rays, a step further in the degeneration characteristic of fresh- 
water types. The skin is smooth, or very nearly so, the pre- 
opercular spines small, and there is usually no trace of teeth on 
the palatines. Cold streams and springs of the United States 
from New England and the Great lakes to the Pacific coast. 



l &> 



310 Uranidea gracilis (Heckel) . 
Miller's Thumb 

Gottus gracilis Heckel, Ann. Wien Mus. II, 148, 1837, New York; Girard, 

Monograph Fresh-Water C'ottoids N. A. 49, pi. 1, figs. 11, 12. 1851; 

Guxther, Gat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 157, 1860; Meek, Ann. N. Y. Ac. 

Sci. IV, 315, 1888; Ektgene Smith, Proc. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 40, 1898. 
Uranidea quiescens De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 61, pi. 5, fig. 14, 1842, 

stream and lake in Hamilton county, N. Y. 
Uranidea gracilis Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 699, 1883; 

Bean, Fishes Penna. 137, 1893; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. 

Nat. Mus. 1968, 1898. 

The body is moderately slender, spindle-shaped; mouth large, 
the upper jaw reaching nearly to the middle of the eye. The 
preopercular spine is moderately large, covered by skin. The 
pectorals reach to the origin of the anal, and the ventrals to the 
vent. The depth of the body is one fifth, and the length of the 
head two sevenths of the total without caudal. Teeth in villi- 
form bands on the jaws and vomer, none on the palatine bones. 

D. VIII, 16; A. 12. 

The sides are olivaceous, mottled with darker; a red margin 
on spinous dorsal. 

The miller's thumb or little stargazer is an inhabitant of New 
England and New York. In Pennsylvania it occurs in the head- 



638 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

waters of the Susquehanna and Allegheny rivers. In New York 
it was first taken in a stream emptying into Round lake, Hamil- 
ton county, and in Lake Pleasant, of the same county. Dr 
Meek examined specimens from the southern end of Cayuga lake, 
Beaver creek, McLean N. Y., Worcester N. Y., and Bangor N. Y., 
but it was not so abundant as the preceding species. Eugene 
Smith says that it is very plentiful in the head streams of the 
Hackensack and Saddle rivers in New York and New Jersey, in 
company with black-nosed dace and darters. This species 
grows to a length of 4 inches and is represented by several 
varieties, one of which has the body robust instead of slender 
and another has the slender body as in gracilis, but with 
longer fins. 

This fish is found under stones in clear, rocky and gravelly 
brooks. It has no importance either as food or bait and is very 
destructive to the eggs of other fishes. 

311 Uranidea formosa (Girard) 
Lake Blob 

Cottus formosus Girard, Monograph Fresh-Water Cottords N. A. 58, 1850, 
Lake Ontario off Oswego, in stomach of Lota maculosa. 

Uranidea formosa Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 955, 1883; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 1969, 1898. 

Body slender and graceful; head small, depressed above; the 
length of the head is contained four and one fourth times in the 
length of the body; eyes moderate; preopercular spine short, 
stout, acute, curved upwards; a small spine below it; sub- 
opercular spine well developed. Dorsals well separated; anal 
beginning under third ray of soft dorsal ; pectorals not reaching 
to posterior margin of spinous dorsal; ventrals not nearly to 
vent. 

D. VIII-16; A. II; V. 1, 3. Length 3| inches. Deep water 
in Lake Ontario. 

A single mutilated specimen has been recorded, this having 
been found by Prof. S. F. Baird in the stomach of a Burbot 
(Lota m a c u 1 o s a) off Oswego N. Y., in Lake Ontario. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 639 

Genus myoxocephalus (Steller) Tilesius 
Body slender or robust, subfusiforrn, covered with thick skin, 
in which are sometimes embedded prickly plates; deciduous, 
granular, or stellate tubercles also sometimes present, but no 
true scales. Head large. Mouth terminal, large, the lower jaw 
always included, the uppermost the longer; villiform teeth on 
the jaws and vomer, none on the palatines; suborbital stay 
strong; preopercle with two strong straight spines above 
directed backward, and one below directed downward and for- 
ward; operele, nasal bones, orbital rim, and shoulder girdle more 
or less armed; gill membranes forming a fold across the rather 
narrow isthmus; slit behind last gill reduced to a mere pore, or 
wanting; vertebrae about 28. Branchiostegals mostly six. 
Dorsal fins two, separate, the first short, its spines rather slen- 
der; ventral rays I, 3; caudal fin moderate, fan-shaped; pectoral 
fin broad, its lower rays procurrent. Lateral line well devel- 
oped, its tubes sometimes provided with bony or cartilaginous 
plates, never chainlike nor reduced to separated pores. Species 
numerous, in the seas of northern regions; coarse fishes, little 
valued as food. 

Subgenus acanthocottus Girard 

312 Myoxocephalus aeneus (Mitchill) 

Grubby; Brassy Sculpin; Pigmy Sculpin 

Cottus arneus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 380, 1815, New 

York; Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 189, 1829; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 52, 1842 (not figure); Goode & Bean, 

Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 13, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. 702, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 251, 1890. 
Cottus scorpio Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 380, 1815, New 

York. 
Cottus mitchilli Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 188, 1S29, 

New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 53, pi. 17, fig. 47, 1842; 

Gunther, Gat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 164, 1860. 
Cottus (Acanthocottus J anceps Salvage, Nouv. Archiv. Mus. Paris (2), I, 145, 

pi. 1, fig. 13, 1878, New York. 
Acantlwcottus arneus Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 369, 1897; H. M. 

Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 105, 1898. 
Myoxocephalus ceneus Jordan & Eyermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 

1972, 1898, pi. CCXCY, fig. 716, 716a, 1900. 



040 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Depth of body one fourth of total length without caudal. 
Head four elevenths of the same length, rather broad, covered 
with smooth thin skin; no cirri; a few very small warts between 
occipital ridges. Caudal peduncle short and slender, its least 
depth about one sixth length of head and less than diameter of 
eye. Maxillary three sevenths as long as head, reaching to 
below hind margin of pupil. Supraocular and occipital ridges 
prominent, each with a low, bluntish spine; the region between 
the supraocular spines rather convex, the space before and 
behind it concave; nasal spines moderate; upper preopercular 
spine shorter than eye, nearly twice length of next spine, about 
reaching middle of opercle. Eye two thirds as long as snout, 
one fifth as long as head. Lateral line complete, each pore with 
a concealed cartilaginous plate; scattered, concealed asperities 
on skin of sides. No trace of slit behind last gill. Dorsal base 
two thirds as long as head; fourth spine longest, one third as 
long as head. Base of soft dorsal nearly as long as head; first 
soft ray as long as the eye; fifth, sixth and seventh rays longest, 
one third as long as head. Caudal rounded, its middle rays two 
fifths as long as head. Anal origin under third ray of soft 
dorsal; anal base three fifths as long as head; longest anal ray 
nearly one third as long as head. Pectoral reaches to below 
origin of soft dorsal; ventral to below eighth spine of dorsal. 

D. IX, 13; A. 10; V. I, 3; P. 15. 

Grayish olive, much variegated with darker; no distinct paler 
spots; back and sides with broad, dark irregular bars; all the 
fins barred; mandible mottled; belly pale. 

This little sculpin was known to Mitchill as the brazen bull- 
head and also to De Kay, who said it is frequently taken with 
the hook in Long Island Sound, and the harbor of New York. 
De Kay describes it again under the name of the smooth browed 
bullhead and states that it is commonly taken with the hook in 
company with the flat fishes. 

The grubby seldom exceeds 5 inches in length. It ranges from 
the Bay of Fundy to New Jersey and is very common in sea- 
weeds near shore. The fish has been found moderately abundant 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 641 

at Fire Island in September. In Gravesend bay it is practically 
a permanent resident, spawning in winter; the eggs have a beau- 
tiful green color. In the vicinity of Woods Hole, Mass., accord- 
ing to Dr Smith, it is very common, remains during the entire 
year, and is the only sculpin found in summer. In winter from 
10 to 50 are caught daily in fyke nets set in the harbor. The 
fish is then in a spawning condition, and the eggs adhere to the 
twine. 

313 Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus (Mit chill) 

18-spined Sculpin; Hackleliead 

Cottus octodecimspinosus Mitchtll, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 380, 
1815, New York; Ctjvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 181, 
1829; GtJnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 163, 1860; Goode & Bean, 
Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 13, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 701, 1883; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 137, 1888. 

Cottus virginianus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 51, pi. 5, fig. 13, 1842. 

Acantliocottus virginianus Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 28, pi. IV, fig. 2, 1867. 

Acantliocottus octodecimspinosus Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 
1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 105, 1S98. 

31 yoxocephalns octodecimspinosus Jordan & Evebmann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. II, 1976, 1898, pi. CCNCYI, fig. 718, 1900. 

Body moderately robust anteriorly, tapering posteriorly, its 
depth contained four and one half times in the standard length 
while the least depth of the caudal peduncle is less than one 
sixth length of head, the length of the latter being contained 
two and two thirds times in the standard length; maxilla twice 
long diameter of eye and contained two and one half times in the 
length of head; the spines of the head are long, the upper oper- 
cular spine being longer than in any other species of the genus; 
the first dorsal originates over the base of the pectoral, its third 
and fourth spines being longest, about four fifths as long as 
the base or equal to the distance from the posterior margin of 
the eye to the tip of the snout; the length of the second dorsal 
base equals the length of the head, and the longest rays of the 
second dorsal equal the length of the spines; anal base shorter 
than second dorsal base; longest rays of anal equal to length of 
sixth dorsal spine; caudal slightly truncate, its length equal to 
the depth of body; pectorals long, broad, their bases equal to 
half the length; the length of the ventrals is equal to the dis- 



642 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

tance from the posterior margin of the eye to the origin of first 
dorsal. D. IX, 16; A. 14. 

General color dark olivaceous above, paler below, under side 
of head and belly white; fins barred and mottled. 

This large sculpin reaches the length of about 1 foot. It 
occurs on the Atlantic coast from Virginia to Labrador and is 
very common about Cape Cod and in Massachusetts bay. In the 
southern part of its habitat it is found only in late fall and 
winter; in Great Egg bay, for example, an individual 12 inches 
long was caught at Somers Point in November. In Gravesend 
bay the fish is taken only in winter and early spring and it can 
not endure the temperature of the water in summer. It is known 
to the fishermen of that vicinity as the hacklehead. 

De Kay does not mention any particular locality for the 
species, but says it ranges from Virginia to Newfoundland, and 
perhaps farther north. He makes the following additional 
remarks: " This species, which, on account of its uncouth form, 
is regarded with aversion by fishermen, is nevertheless not a bad 
article of food. In fact, when freshly taken from the water, and 
irritated, they do present rather a formidable appearance. The 
head is swollen to twice its usual size by the distension of the 
branchial membrane; the spines stand out prominently, and the 
rays of all the fins become erect. It is known under the various 
popular names of sculpin, quere scorpion? sea robin, bullhead, 
sea toad, and pigfish; the latter from its croaking noise when 
drawn from the water.' 7 

Dr Smith states that it first appears in the vicinity of Woods 
Hole, Mass., about October 1, becomes very abundant by October 
15, and remains till December or January. The spawning time 
is November and December; the eggs often come ashore by 
bucketfuls on Nobska beach. 

314 Myoxocephalus groenlandicus (Cuv. & Val.) 

Daddy Sculpin 

Cottus gramlandicus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 156, 
1829; Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 46, 297, pi. 95, fig. 2, 1836; 
De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 54, pi. 4, fig. 10, 1842; Gunther, Cat, 
Fish, Brit. Mus. II, 161, 1860. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 643 

Cottus scorpius grcenlandims Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 13, 1879; 

Bean, Bull. 15, U. S. Nat. Mus. 118, 1879; Joed an & Giebeet, Bull. 16, 

U. S. Nat. Mus. 703, 1883. 
Acantlwcottus variabilis Stoeee, Hist. Fish. Mass. 26, pi. IV, fig. 1, 1867. 
Acanthocottus grwnlandicus H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 105. 1898. 
Myoxoceplialus grcerilandicus Joed an & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

II, 1974, 1898. 

The length of the body is four and one half times the depth. 
Head large, the length being contained two and one half times in 
the length of the body. Mouth large, the lower jaw included; 
maxillary reaching posterior edge of orbit, its length three 
sevenths length of head; the supraorbital and occipital spines 
blunt, tuberclelike, without cirrus; a small tubercular spine on 
front of occipital ridge; upper preopercular spine short, only 
reaching the middle of opercular spine, its length equaling eye, 
not twice that of the spine below it; opercular spine sharp; nasal 
spines sharp; suprascapular spine rather strong and short. Sides 
of body above lateral line with a series of embedded prickly 
plates, below which are numerous scattered spines and prickles. 
Dorsal and anal fins high, their hight more than one seventh 
total length without caudal. Yentrals long. Pectorals reaching 
to vent. Eye large, equal to width of interorbital space. D. X, 
17; A. 14; V. I, 3; P. 18. 

Dark brown above, with broad darker bars; below yellowish, 
the belly in the male with large pale spots; back and top of head 
with grayish blotches; fins brown and yellow, all of them spotted 
and barred. Sexual differences great, the males more brightly 
colored; the round white spots strongly marked; females with 
rough crests on the head. 

The daddy sculpin is the largest of its kind on our east coast 
as it grows to the length of 25 inches. It ranges from New York 
to Greenland, but is common in New York and Massachusetts 
waters only in fall and winter. De Kay had met with a single 
specimen which was taken near Hell Gate. Storer records it as 
abundant on the coast of Massachusetts feeding on small fish, 
crabs, sea urchins and other invertebrates; but not valued as 
food. Dr Smith remarks that it arrives at Woods Hole in Octo- 
ber, remains till December or January, spawning in November 



644 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



and December when there is a great loss of eggs through storms. 
Fabricius records its spawning in Greenland in December and 
January and describes its eggs as red colored. The eggs, he 
states, are deposited on seaweed. The Greenlanders eat the fish 
for their daily food and they eat its eggs raw. 

Genus triglopsis Girard 
Body and head slender; skin naked; lateral line chainlike; 
teeth on vomer, none on the palatines; eye large, the interorbital 
area concave; bones of lower part of head extensively cavernous; 
a small but distinct slit behind last gill; gill membranes almost 
free from the isthmus, forming a broad fold across it; preoper- 
cular spines straight, simple, 4 in number, the lower turned 
downward; fins large. Fresh-water fishes, closely related to 
Oncocottus, from which they have doubtless become 
degraded through fresh-water life. There is no tangible differ- 
ence in structure in any part of the body. 

315 Triglopsis thompsoni Girard 
Lake Sculpm 

Triglopsis thompsoni Girard, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. IV, 19, 1851, off 
Oswego, Lake Ontario; Monograph Fresh-Water Cottoids, N. A. 65, 
pi. 2, figs. 9, 10, pi. 3, figs. 22-25, 36-38, 1852; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 
16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 709, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. II, 2005, 1898. 

Triglopsis stimpsoni Hoy, Trans. Wisconsin Ac. Sci. 98, 1872, Lake Michi- 
gan. 

Ptyonotus thompsonii Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 175, 1860. 

Body elongate, very slender, the depth being one sixth of the 
length. Head long, depressed above, the length being one third 
of the length of the body. Snout long and pointed; eye quite 
large, nearly as long as snout, much wider than interorbital 
space, one fourth as long as the head; jaws subequal; mouth 
large, the maxillary extending rather beyond middle of eye; pre- 
opercle with four sharp spines, the upper much shorter than 
pupil; cavernous structure of skull highly developed; upper sur- 
face of head smooth; gill membranes not broadly united; nearly 
free from isthmus. Dorsal fins well separated; spinous dorsal 
short and low, its hight little more than length of snout; second 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 645 

dorsal very large, three times hight of first, its longest rays 
about as long as head; anal high, half as high as second dorsal; 
pectoral long, reaching past front of anal; ventrals well 
developed; lateral line chainlike, conspicuous; skin perfectly 
smooth. Length 3 inches. D. VII-18; A. 15; V. I, 3; pyloric 
caeca seven. 

Pale olivaceous, with darker blotches; upper fins faintly 
banded. 

Beep waters of the Great lakes; specimens have been taken 
sparingly in Lakes Ontario and Michigan. The U. S. Fish Com- 
mission obtained two examples at Nine Mile Point N. Y. and on 
June 10, 1893, a single individual was collected at the same 
place. The type of the species was taken by Spencer F. Baird 
off Oswego, Lake Ontario. Dr William Stimpson obtained a 
specimen in deep water of Lake Michigan which formed the 
type of Dr Hoy's Triglopsis stimpsoni. 

The close relationship of Triglopsis and Oncocottus 

has been pointed out. Both young and adults of Oncocottus 

have been found occasionally in fresh water and the descent of 

the lake sculpin from a species of Oncocottus is highly 

probable. 

Genus hemitripterus Cuvier 

Body moderately elongate, scaleless, but the skin covered with 
I prickles and bony protuberances of various sizes and forms. 
Head large, with numerous bony humps and ridges and fleshy 
slips above; orbital rim much elevated, the interorbital space 
deeply concave; a depressed area at the occiput, behind which 
are 2 blunt spines on each side. Mouth very wide; jaws, vomer, 
and palatines with broad bands of teeth; no slit behind last gill; 
gill membranes broadly united, free from isthmus; preopercle 
with stout, blunt spines; suborbital stay very strong, forming 
a sharp rid^e. Spinous dorsal much longer than the soft part, 
of 16 to 18 spines, of which the first two are the highest, and 
the fourth and fifth shorter than the succeeding ones, the fin 
thus deeply emarginate; pectoral fins very broad, much procur- 
rent; ventrals I, 3. Large fishes of singular appearance, inhabit- 
ing the North Atlantic and Pacific. 



646 ^ NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

316 Hemitripterus americanus (Gmelin) 

Sea Raven 

Scorpwna americana Gmelin, L. Syst. Nat. 1220, 1788. 

Cottus Mspidus Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 63, 1801, New York. 

Scorpwna flava MfTCHiix, Trans. lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 382, pi. II, fig. 8, 

1815. 
Scorpwna purpurea and rufa Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 245, February 

1818. 
Hemitripterus acadianus Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 35, pi. VII, fig. 4, 1867. 
Hemitripterus americanus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 

268, pi. 84, 1829; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 56, pi. 6, fig. 16, 1842; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 143, 1860; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 

16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 685, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 251, 

1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 1897; H. M. Smitii, Bull. 

U. S. F. O. 1897, 105, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 

Mus. II, 2023, 1898, pi. GOGV, fig. 738, 1900. 

The length of the body is three and three fourths times the 
depth and two and two thirds times the length of the head. 
Body villous, the prickles enlarged and tuberclelike along the 
back and lateral line; nasal spines strong; supraocular ridge 
much elevated, with dermal flaps and two blunt spines; three 
pairs of fleshy slips on nasal bones, and two on supraocular 
ridges; smaller cirri on maxillary, on preorbital, and several on 
lower jaw; interocular space very deeply concave; two blunt 
occipital spines on each side, outside of which are two or three 
others; opercle small, with a bony ridge; preopercle with two 
blunt spines, below which are one or two others; lower jaw 
slightly projecting; maxillary reaching beyond eye, and about 
half as long as the head; pectorals nearly reaching anal; highest 
dorsal spine three fifths length of head, as long as caudal; vent- 
rals reaching half way to anal. 

D. IV, XII-I, 12; A. 13; Lot. 1. 40; vertebrae 16+23. 

Reddish brown, marbled with darker brown, and much varie- 
gated; yellowish below; fins variegated with light and dark. 
Atlantic coast of America; chiefly northward from Cape Cod. 

This fish is the Acadian bullhead of Pennant and the yellow 
scorpaena of Mitchill. According to De Kay the name sea 
sculpin is sometimes applied to this species. Other names given 
to it are rock toadfish and deep water sculpin. It is found along 
the east coast from Nova Scotia to Chesapeake bay. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 647 

De Kay saw it very rarely. In Gravesend bay, specimens have 
been taken by John De Nyse in April, May, October, November 
and December. 

We are indebted to Captain Lewis B. Thurber, of Patchogue, 
for specimens, which were taken in the fall of 1884. These were 
all the more remarkable for having attached to the head and 
back a peculiar hydroid. 

In the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. the fish is common in Octo- 
ber and November, the individuals usually measuring about 16 
inches; the young are rare. It grows to a length of 2 feet and 
is one of the most brightly colored of the marine fishes. Its 
colors are subject to great variation. The head is furnished with 
numerous fringes and the dorsal spines are often produced into 
filaments. The mouth is large, the skin rough and the belly very 
distensible at the will of the fish, making this species one of the 
curiosities of the sea. It feeds upon mollusks and all other inver- 
tebrates of suitable size. 

The sea raven is not eaten, though its flesh is of excellent 
flavor. It is useful as a scavenger and as bait for the eel and 
lobster. 

The sea raven spawns in November. Eggs observed Nov. 29, 
1897, were in masses adhering tightly together. The egg at that 
date was A inch in diameter, and showed the form of the fish 
distinctly. Its color when first deposited is yellow but soon 
changes to salmon and then to amber before hatching. 

Family agonidae 

Group AGONINAE 

Genus aspidophoroides Lace'pede 
Body and head more or less slender; head 4 to 6, width 5 to 8 
in length of body; eight longitudinal rows of plates, the lateral 
line in the upper lateral row; about 40 plates in the dorsal 
series. Terminal rostral plate present, unarmed; mouth ter- 
minal; teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Supraocular and 
occipital spines absent; plates of body more or less keeled, with- 
out spines. First dorsal absent; second dorsal and anal small, 
opposite each other, each with four to seven rays. Gill mem- 



648 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

branes united, narrowly joined to isthmus anteriorly, free 
behind. 

Subgenus ulcina Cramer 
317 Aspidophoroides monopterygius (Bloch) 

Sea Poacher 
Cottus monopterygius Bloch, Ichth. II, 156, pi. 178, figs. 1, 2, 1780. 
Aspidophorus monopterygius Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 

224, 1829; VI, 554, pi. 169, 1830; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 62, pi. 

2, fig. 5, 1842. 
Aspidophoroides monopterygius Storer, Rep. Ichth. Mass. 22, pi. 1, fig. 1, 

1839; Gttnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 216, 1860; Storer, Hist. 

Fish. Mass. 32, pi. VIII, fig. 1, 1867; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. 

XI, 12, 1879; Jordan and Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 724, 

1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 283, pi. LXXII, fig. 260, 1896; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 2091, 1898, pi. 

OGCXII, figs. 756, 756a, 1900. 

Body very slender, tapering, elongate, its greatest depth 
nearly one twelfth of total length without caudal, its greatest 
width about one tenth of the same length. Head triangular, 
much narrowed anteriorly, its length one sixth of total without 
caudal; nasal spines very large, diverging, inserted near tip 
of snout ; no other spines anywhere ; eyes very large, longer than 
snout, one fourth as long as the head; supraocular ridges very 
high; a ridge extending backward from eye along temporal 
region; lower jaw slightly included. Caudal peduncle very long 
and slender, forming about two fifths of the length. Breast 
with flat plates. Dorsal ridges high anteriorly, the median line 
of back from snout to dorsal fin concave. Dorsal origin mid- 
way between hind margin of orbit and base of middle caudal 
rays; base of dorsal one half as long as the head and equal to 
length of second, and longest ray. Anal immediately under dorsal 
and nearly equal to it in length of rays. Caudal convex behind, 
the middle rays two thirds as long as the head. Ventral two 
fifths as long as head. Pectoral reaching to eighth plate of the 
dorsal ridge, nearly as long as the head. Plates on breast 
radially striate, the two median ones larger than the rest; a 
few small plates on hinder median part of gill membranes, and 
on narrow underside of mandible; two large plates with raised 
centers in front of and four to eight small spineless plates in one 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



649 



or two series on base of pectoral. D. 5 or 6; A. 5 or 6; P. 9; V. 
I, 2; O. 10 or 11; pyloric caeca four or five; lateral line about 50. 

Color brownish, pale below, with indefinite cross bands of 
darker, two in front of, and one under dorsal, and two or three 
on caudal peduncle; rays of dorsal and upper rays of pectoral 
brownish, interrupted by lighter, giving an indefinite appear- 
ance of cross bands; caudal dark; ventrals and anal in both 
sexes pale. 

This fish reaches a length of 6 inches; it is found in moderate 
depths from Greenland to Rhode Island and doubtless occurs 
off Long Island in suitable depths though specimens have not 
been recorded in New York waters. The species is very fre- 
quently obtained from the stomachs of haddock and cod, and 
the trawl has taken it in depths as shallow as 44 fathoms. In 
1874 the head of a sea poacher was dredged up on the " Pecten 
Ground," off Watch Hill R. I. The fish exists in great abundance 
in Massachusetts bay and farther north. 

Family cyclopteridae 

Lump Suckers 

Group CYOLOPTERINAE 

Genus cyclopterus (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body more or less compressed toward the back, somewhat 

triangular in a transverse section at the first dorsal, covered 

with conical, rough, bony tubercles; head short, thick, subquad- 

rangular in a cross section; snout blunt, rounded; mouth 

anterior, opening slightly upward ; teeth simple, small, arranged 

in a band; eye moderate, lateral; dorsals two; caudal distinct; 

disk moderately large, anterior, below the head; no barbels 

about the mouth; first dorsal fin in the adult completely hidden 

by the skin, the larger tubercles of the flanks, though in regular 

series, having a scattered appearance. One species, reaching a 

considerable size, in the north Atlantic. 

318 Cyclopterus lumpus Linnaeus 
Lumpfish; Lumpsucker 

Cyclopterus coeruleus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 480, pi. II, 

fig. 7, 1815, New York Harbor. 
Lumpus anglorum De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 305, pi. 54, fig. 175, 1842; 

Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 208, pi. XXXII, fig. 2, 1867. 



650 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Cycloptcrus lumpiis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat ed. X, I, 260, 1758; Gunther, 
Cat Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 155, 1861; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. 
XI, 11, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S, Nat. Mus. 747, 1883; 
Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. 
U. S. F. C. 1897, 105, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. II, 2096, 1898, pi. OOOXIII, fig. 757, 1900. 

Body massive, compressed, subtriangular in transverse sec- 
tion through the middle, belly flattened, the portion behind the 
abdominal chamber much compressed, and less than one half the 
length of the body proper; greatest depth of body one half or 
more than one half of total length including caudal. Caudal 
peduncle short, its least depth one third length of head. Head 
short, subquadrangular in transverse section, forehead broad, 
flattened; length of head one fourth of total length with caudal. 
Nape high. Snout short, broad, blunt, one fourth as long as the 
head. Mouth wide, terminal, oblique, the maxillary reaching to 
below the front margin of the orbit. Eye lateral, placed high, as 
long as the snout, and one third as wide as interorbital space. 
Nostrils small, the hinder smaller, near the eyes on interorbital 
space, the anterior farther forward, halfway to the mouth, 
with a short tube. Gill opening moderately wide, about three 
fifths length of head, its lower third in front of base of pectoral. 
Fins with rounded margins, rough, with small tubercles. First 
dorsal distinct in very young individuals, variable in shape, 
thick and fleshy, with weak rays in older stages; second dorsal 
always distinct, broad, rounded, its origin two and one half 
times as far from tip of snout as from base of middle caudal 
rays, its longest ray one half as long as head. Caudal broad, 
subtruncate or rounded behind, its 'middle rays one half as long 
as the head. Anal exactly opposite the dorsal and about equal 
in size. Pectoral broad, rounded, fringed, not indented at the 
sides of the disk, its length one sixth of the total without caudal. 
Disk little longer than wide, about as wide, or nearly three 
fourths as long, as the head. Skin thickly covered with small, 
irregular subcorneal tubercles, the sides of which are roughened 
with small, conical protuberances. On older individuals, larger, 
longitudinally compressed tubercles form a vertical series from 
the nape over the first dorsal; a series of three tubercles at 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 651 

each side of the space between the dorsals; a row of larger ones 
extends from the supraorbital region along the flank to the 
upper part of the tail; a series, starting a little above the pec- 
toral, passes to the lower portion of the tail; and a third lateral 
series reaches along each line of the lower surface from the side 
of the disk to the anal. The fleshy ridge enveloping the first 
dorsal is subject to considerable variation; it usually continues 
forward on the nape and becomes indefinite at the occiput. D. 
VI to VIII, 11; A. 9 or 10; V. 6; P. 20; C. 12 to 14; B. 6; vertebrae 
11+18=29. 

Colors in alcohol, brownish or olive to grayish, the tubercles 
darker. In life the tints vary from yellowish or greenish in the 
young to more or less brilliant red in males, or bluish to dark 
brown in females; spots, blotches, cloudings, or other markings 
are not infrequent. The young often take the color of their sur- 
roundings. De Kay had a specimen with the following colors: 
above deep blue, becoming paler on the sides, which are tinged 
with yellowish beneath, approaching to red. Ventrals bright 
yellow, and in the spawning season, bright red. Irides yellow- 
ish. Kumlien had one with iris umber. 

The lumpfish is called cock-paddle and hen-paddle in Scotland, 
lumpsucker, lumpfish, and sea owl in England, Licorne de Mer 
in France. Its habitat is in the North Atlantic, on rocky shores 
of both coasts, south to New York and France. It is said to 
attain to a weight of 17 pounds and a length of 20 inches, but 
is usually much smaller. The species is rarely used for food 
in our country, but in Scotland it is said to be considered a great 
delicacy. 

By means of its ventral disk it can adhere firmly to any solid 
substance. Pennant relates that upon throwing one of these 
fishes into a pail of water it adhered so strongly that upon tak- 
ing hold of the fish by the tail he lifted the whole vessel contain- 
ing several gallons of water. 

The lumpfish is found in Gravesend bay in May. It will not 
live longer than a few weeks in captivity. Adults are common 
in the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. in April and a few are seen 



652 NEiW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

in May. The young are very common throughout the summer 

in Vineyard Sound among driftweed. Spawning occurs in April, 

sometimes in March, near the shore. After spawning the female 

retires to deep water and the male guards the eggs which hatch 

among seaweed. 

Family liparididae 

Sea Snails 

Group LIPARIDINAE 

Genus neoliparis Steindachner 

This genus differs from Liparis in having a deep notch in 

the dorsal fin anteriorly, separating the spines from the soft 

rays. The species approach more nearly to the cottoid type, from 

which the liparids are descended. In general the vertebrae are 

fewer, the fin rays fewer, the ventral disk larger, and the vertical 

fins better separated than in the more degenerate members of 

the family. The retention of the notch between the dorsals fully 

justifies the recognition of N e o 1 i p a r i s as a distinct genus. 

319 Neoliparis atlanticus Jordan & Evermann 
Sea Snail; Lumpmclcer 

Liparis montagui Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 1, vol. 2, 227, 1817; Jordan & 
Gilbert, 743, 1883, in part; Garman, Discoboli, 47, 1892, with plate. 

Liparis Montagui Putnam, Proc. Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. 335, 1874; Goode 
& Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 12, 1879. 

Neoliparis montagui H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 105, 1898. 

Neoliparis atlanticus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 
2107, 1898. 

Body widest at gill opening, compressed posteriorly, deepest 

below third dorsal spine, its depth two ninths to one fourth of 

the total length without caudal. Head broader than deep, 

depressed above the eyes, its length contained four and two 

thirds times in total without caudal; snout one third and eye 

one fifth as long as the head. Mouth narrow, its cleft transverse 

and extending to anterior nostril; lower jaw included; teeth 

tricuspid, the middle cusps highest; gill openings very narrow, 

the lower border opposite first ray of pectoral; anterior nostril 

tubular, the tube three fifths as long as the eye; posterior nostril 

with a low flap; skin loose, lying in folds. Origin of dorsal not 

far behind pectoral, its distance from tip of snout one third its 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 653 

distance to base of caudal. Dorsal with a very shallow notch, 
the spines nearly continuous with the soft rays; in the males 
much elevated, the tips thickened and membranes deeply incised; 
the first or longest spine as long as head; the sixth or last not 
quite one half as long as head; middle rays of soft dorsal one 
half as long as head; dorsal and anal joined to base of caudal; 
caudal nearly as long as head; pectoral almost reaching anal, 
slightly longer than head; lower rays exserted, forming a slight 
lobe. Ventral disk one half to four sevenths as long as the head. 

D. VI, 25; A. 23; P. 30. 

Color reddish brown, with small scattered light or bluish dots 
over the body; fins darker, clouded with pale, the dorsal broadly 
edged with darker. Described from a specimen about 5 inches 
long, from Grodbout, Quebec, and from other specimens collected 
at Salem Mass., and Woods Hole Mass. (After Jordan and 
Evermann) 

The sea snail is generally common along rocky shores from 
Newfoundland to Connecticut. At Woods Hole it is not common 
in the shallow waters near the shores. In Massachusetts bay it 
is a resident of rocky bottoms among the roots of the Kelp 
(Laminaria saccharina), but is less frequently taken 
than the striped lumpsucker. Putnam recorded specimens from 
Salem and Nahant. The, species reaches a length of about 5 
inches. 

Genus liparis (Artedi) Scopoli 

Body rather elongate, covered with smooth skin, which is 
usually freely movable; head short, flattened above; mouth hori- 
zontal, the jaws equal or the lower jaw included; teeth in several 
series, close set, always more or less tricuspid, the adult with 
the outer cusps often worn or obliterated; maxillary covered by 
skin of preorbital region; anterior nostrils tubular or not; vent- 
ral disk well developed on the breast, its front below or behind 
the middle of the head, its surface with 13 lobes; an anterior 
median lobe, and one corresponding to each of the six rays 
in the fin; each lobe with a horny papilla covering, which 
is sometimes lost; vent well behind the head, about midway 



654 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

between the sucking disk and anal fin; dorsal fin continuous, 
undivided, its spines not differentiated; caudal well developed; 
dorsal fin free from caudal or joined; pectoral broad, procurrent 
at base, emarginate and free at tips, some of the lower rays pro- 
duced; vertical fins enveloped in the lax skin; vertebrae 35 to 55. 
Northern seas, near the shores; the species less arctic in distribu- 
tion and, in general, inhabiting shallower water than is the case 
with Careproctus and Paraliparis, a fact asso- 
ciated with the reduced number of vertebrae in L i p a r i s. The 
species are numerous, but in general well defined, their char- 
acters varying with age. In most of the species color varieties 
occur, several having the body often marked everywhere with 
concentric curved stripes or rings. 

Subgenus liparis (Artedi) Scopoli 
320 Liparis liparis (Linnaeus) 
Sea Snail; Striped Sea Snail 

Cyclopterus liparis Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 414, 1766, Northern 
Ocean. 

Liparis vulgaris Fleming, Brit. Anim. 190, 1828; Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. 
Mus. Ill, 159, 1861; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 12, 1879; 
Bean, Bull. 15, U. S. Nat. Mus. 115, 1879. 

Liparis lineata Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 742, 1883. 

Liparis liparis Gtjvier, Regne Anim. ed. 1, vol. 2, 227, 1817; Garman, Dis- 
coboli, 57, 1892; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S, Nat. Mus. II, 
2116, 1898; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. P. C. 1897, 105, 1898. 

Body thick and subcylindric anteriorly, compressed pos- 
teriorly, enveloped in an unctuous, thin, loose skin; its greatest 
depth about one fifth of the total length. Head obtuse, one 
fourth of total length; nape slightly swollen. Snout broad, not 
depressed, moderately long. Cleft of mouth horizontal, not 
reaching vertical from front of eye; lips rather thick; upper jaw 
longer than lower. Both jaws with a band of villiform teeth, 
becoming cardlike in very large individuals. Eye lateral, but 
interfering with the upper profile of head, one seventh as long 
as head, one half as long as ,snout and one half of width of inter- 
orbital space. Nostril close before eye. Gill opening reduced to 
a vertical slit extending downward on upper part of base of 
pectoral, the remainder of the gill membranes being united with 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 655 

the base of the pectorals and with the isthmus. Gills 3J; pseuo- 
dobranchiae not evident. Pectoral very broad, extending down- 
ward and forward under the throat; the twelve upper rays reach 
to the vertical from the origin of the anal, the remainder grad- 
ually becoming shorter as far as the last but six, which are con- 
siderably produced. The six rays which constitute the base of 
the ventral disk may be easily distinguished; the disk is sur- 
rounded by about 13 soft and flat papillae. Dorsal fin com- 
mencing above middle of pectoral and slightly connected with 
caudal; its middle rays highest. Caudal moderately long and 
rounded, its rays simple, articulated. Anal origin below seventh 
ray of dorsal, the fin continuous with the caudal. Vent midway 
between ventral disk and anal fin. 

B. 6; 33 to 36; A. 27 to 29; P. 34 to 37; C. 10 to 14; pyloric 
caeca 10 to 16 ; vertebrae 38 to 42. 

Color very variable. Some specimens are pale yellowish 
brown, mottled and spotted with dark brown. Others are red- 
dish gray, with broad, irregular black spots; fins reddish, with 
black dots arranged in transverse bands. Others, again, are 
brownish, with irregular darker longitudinal streaks on the head 
and body. (After Gunther) 

The species grows to the length of 5 inches. It inhabits the 
North Atlantic, on both coasts, extending southward to Long 
Island Sound and France. 

At Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, it is common in 
winter on rocky bottoms, and is found full of spawn in December 
and January. In Massachusetts bay it is a resident of rocky 
bottoms among the roots of the kelp. Mr J. H. Sears discovered 
it in the vicinity of Salem, near Baker's island, in 6 feet of water. 
Kumlien found it fastened to kelp in Cumberland gulf in depths 
of 5 to 7 fathoms. It is to be noted that Kumlien's specimens 
had an increased number of rays in the dorsal and anal fins. 

Richardson mentions this sea snail from the west side of 
Davis strait, in lat. 70° n. and from Regent's inlet. 

Professor Collett found the alimentary canal of one specimen 
filled with small amphipods, one of them being C a p r e 1 1 a 



656 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

septentrionalis, together with many individuals of 
Protomedeia fasciata. I)r Gtlnther found the stom- 
ach of a large specimen filled with shrimp. 

Group GOBIOIDEI 

{Gobies) 

Family gobiidae 

Subfamily gobiinae 

Genus gobiosoma Girard 

Body entirely naked; mouth moderate, horizontal; snout blunt; 

teeth in several series, the outer row enlarged; no canines; 

dorsal spines normally seven, rarely five or six; second dorsal 

and anal short; no barbels about head; shoulder girdle without 

flaps. Species chiefly American. 

321 Gobiosoma bosci (Lacep&de) 
Naked Goby; Mud Creeper; Oysterfisli 

Gobius bosci Lacepede, Hist Nat. Poiss. II, 555, pi. 16, fig. 1, 1798, Charles- 
ton, S. O. i > 

Gobius alepidotus Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 547, 1801; De Kay, 
N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 160, pi. 23, fig. 70, 1842, New York Harbor. 

Gobius viridipallidus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 379, pi. 1, 
fig. 8, 1815. 

Gobiosoma alepidotum Gunthek, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 85, 1861; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 638, 1883. 

Gobiosoma bosci Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 613, 1882; Bean, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 136, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 249, 
1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 1897; Jordan & Ever- 
mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2259, 1898; H. M. Smith, Bull. 
U. S. F. C. 1897, 105, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 
109, 1900. 

Body moderately elongate, its depth one fifth or one sixth 
of total length without caudal ; head very broad, three tenths of 
total length without caudal, flattish above, with tumid cheeks. 
Eye small, longer than snout, one fifth as long as the head. 
Mouth large, little oblique, the jaws subequal, the maxillary, at 
least in males, extending to below posterior part of orbit, three 
sevenths as long as head. Teeth in few series, the outer con- 
siderably enlarged; two teeth on each side of inner series of 
lower jaw specially large canines. Dorsal spines slender, not 
filamentous. Caudal rounded. D. VII, 14; A. 10. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 657 

Olivaceous or grayish, with darker cross shades of rounded 
spots; seven or eight paler transverse bars over the body and 
tail; fins dark brown, with a bluish shade. De Kay says the 
body is greenish brown, with seven vertical dusky bands, and 
the caudal fin with two or three curved bars. • 

The naked goby, or mud creeper, is found on the Atlantic 
coast from Cape Cod to Florida. 

This is the variegated goby of Drs Mitchill and De Kay. Dr 
Mitchill described it as Gobius viridi-pallidus. He 
had specimens 2J inches long from the bay of New York, and 
illustrates one of them in fig. 8, pi. I, of his Fishes of New Yw~k. 

The ventral fins of this little fish form a sucking disk of com- 
paratively great power, as may be appreciated from the follow- 
ing sentence of Dr Mitchill: "One of the individuals now lying 
before me adhered so firmly to a stone that he was lifted out of 
the water by an oysterman." The variegated goby does not 
exceed 2\ inches in length, and is now known from Buzzard's 
bay southward, its southern limit being undetermined. In the 
Gulf of Mexico occurs a form which was set apart as a distinct 
species by Girard, but this may be merely a color variety. The 
fish has no economic value. Its name in Great South bay is 
mudcreeper. Numerous examples were found at the mouth of 
Swan creek and in Blue Point cove. Several were . obtained 
also at Fire Island. All of these were secured late in September. 

In 1901, the young, measuring from \ inch to 1-J inches, were 
taken in Swan river, August 8, and on September 14 some large 
individuals were secured in empty oyster shells off Duncan's 
creek. Numerous specimens were caught in eel pots off Swan 
river and off Widow's creek, and the species was obtained once 
in fresh water in Swan river. 

Taken in moderate numbers in oyster dredges at Eaton's Neck 
Long Island, in the fall of 189-6. Several individuals lived all 
winter in a balanced tank, and took food greedily, but on the 
approach of summer all died. 

On August 13, August 30, and September 16, 1887, the writer 
seined a few examples at Somers Point and Ocean City N. J. 



658 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

At the latter place they were associated with F u n d u 1 u s , 
Cyprinodon, Lucania, M u g i 1 , Bairdiella, 
A n g u i 1 1 a , and swarms of shrimp. 

This little goby seizes its food with a snap, and immediately 
darts off to conceal itself in a rock crevice or behind plants. 

Group TRACHINOIDEI 

Trachinoid fishes 

Family uranoscopidae 

Stargazers 

Subfamily uranoscopinae 

Genus astroscopus Brevoort 

Body robust. Head above not entirely covered with bone, the 

occipital plate ceasing much behind the orbits ; from the middle 

line anteriorly a Y-shaped bony process extends forward, the 

tips of the fork between the eyes; a trapezoidal space on either 

side of the Y, covered by naked skin, bounded by the Y, the 

eyes, the suborbitals, and the occipital plate. A covered furrow 

behind and on the inner side of each eye terminating near front 

of orbits, its edges fringed. Head without spines; humeral spine 

obsolete; lips and nostrils fringed; no retractile tentacle in 

mouth. Young individuals with top of head largely covered by 

bone. Head scaleless; back and sides covered with close set 

scales; belly mostly naked. No spine before the ventrals. First 

dorsal small, of four or five low, stout, pungent spines, connected 

by membrane to the second dorsal which is rather high and long; 

pectorals and ventrals large. Species American, distinguished 

from the Old World genus, Uranoscopus, chiefly by the 

unarmed head. 

322 Astroscopus guttatus Abbott 
Spotted Star gazer 

Astroscopus guttatus Abbott, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 365, 1860, Cape 
May, N. J.; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 1897; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2310, 1898. 

Upsilonphorus guttatus Bean, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 60, 1879; Kibscii, 
Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 264, 1889. 

Astroscopus anoplus Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, ,136, pi. I, figs. 1, 2, 1888, 
Somers Point, N. J., not Uranoscopus anoplos C. & V. 



FJ SUES OF NEW YORK 659 

Depth of body contained four times in its length in the young, 
three and one fourth times in the adult. Eye small, its diameter 
contained five and one half times in interorbital space. Naked 
space between forks of Y on top of head short and broad, but 
longer than the vertical limb of the Y, which is very short. Two 
distinct spinules directed forward before eye; white spots on 
body very small and irregular, without dark rings; base of dor- 
sals equaling in length the distance from front of first dorsal to 
tip of snout; base of first dorsal twice length of its longest spine; 
first ispine equaling second in length, and three times length of 
last. Middle caudal rays a little shorter than ventral fin. 
Pectoral slightly longer than ventral, two sevenths of total 
length to caudal base, and extending to fifth anal ray. 

D. IV or V, 13 or 14; A. 13; V. I, 5. 

Color of upper parts of body and lower jaw bright chocolate; 
belly and throat white; darker portions covered with numerous 
circular spots much lighter than ground color; membrane of 
first dorsal black; second dorsal white with three irregular bands 
of dull black obliquely across it; the caudal with three 
parallel bands of blackish brown, the middle of which appears to 
be the continuation of a variable longitudinal band on the center 
of each side; the anal having a variable band of dull brown, 
darker upon the posterior termination. 

If the young starga^er identified as Astroscopus a n o - 
p 1 u is by the writer in his paper on the Fishes of the Great Egg 
Harbor Bay, be identical with the A. guttatus of Abbott, 
the following notes will be of interest in connection with the 
species under discussion: 

A single young individual, 1 inch long, was seined at Ocean 
City, August 1. The species has not previously been recorded 
from this bay. 

Another example, 2J inches long, was caught at Longport, 
August 26, not far from the inlet. The colors of the specimen, 
August 28, are as follows: Top of head, cheeks, sides, and a nar- 
row strip along dorsal bases, plum color; back, olive; lower part 
of head, belly, ventrals, anal, and soft dorsal, whitish; caudal, 



660 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

pale, with a faint yellow blotch at base and a dusky streak on 
middle portions; spinous dorsal, black; chin with a yellow 
T-shaped marking, the stem of the T bounded on each side by 
a wing-shaped blotch of purple, which has a dark inner edge; 
pectoral, plum color, its lower margin whitish. D. IV, 14; A. 13. 
A prominent anal papilla. A low fold of skin extends from the 
ventral® along the median line of the belly to the anal papilla. 
Two slight furrows between the eyes, with two rows of papillae 
along their inner margins. Behind these furrows are naked 
spaces, little developed, but quite distinct. Nostrils surrounded 
by a row of papillae. 

The same stargazer was caught in Gravesend bay Oct. 24, 1894. 
It lived about a month in captivity and then was killed by the 
low temperature of the water. 

This stargazer inhabits the Atlantic coast of the United States 
from Long Island to Virginia, but is nowhere plentiful. It has 
been recorded from Gravesend bay, N. Y., Tompkinsville N. Y., 
Vomers Point N. J., Cape May N. J. and Norfolk Va. The 
species attains to the length of 12 inches. The changes through 
which the fish passes from youth to adult age are rather 
remarkable. 

Family batrachoididae 
Toadfishes 
Genus opsanus Kafinesque 
Body comparatively short and robust, scaleless; head large, 
depressed; jaws, vomer, and palatines each with a single series 
of strong blunt teeth; mandible with an additional external 
series at symphysis; teeth of upper jaw small; dentary bones 
forming an acute angle at symphysis; lips fleshy; upper angle 
of opercle with two diverging spines, more or less concealed in 
the skin; no poison glands; spinous dorsal of three stout, short 
spines, the second the longest; axil of pectoral with a large 
foramen; lateral line obscure, its pores not conspicuous; young 
with a series of small, tufted cirri on back and sides; branchi- 
ostegals six; vertebrae 12+22. Shore fishes, mostly of tem- 
perate regions; voracious creatures, living on the bottoms, feed- 
ing on mollusks and Crustacea, and having great strength of 
jaw. 



FISHES OF £TEW YORK 661 

323 Opsanus tau (Linnaeus) 

ToadfisJi; Oysterfish 

Gadus tau Linnaeus, Syst Nat. ed. XII, I, 4^0, 1766, Carolina. 

Lophius lufo Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil; Soc. N. Y. I, 463, 1815, New 

York. 
Batrackus celatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 170, pi. 50, fig. 161. 1842, 

New York. 
Batrachus tau Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XII, 478, 1837; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 168, pi. 28, fig. 86, 1842; Gunther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 167, 1861; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 105. 

pi. XIX, figs. 1, 2, 1867; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI. 11, 

1879; Bean. Bull. TL S. F. C. VII, 135, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. 

N. Y. 249. 1890. 

Body robust, naked, its depth about one fourth of the stand- 
ard length; depth of caudal peduncle one fourth length of head; 
head broad, its length about one third that of the body with 
head; mouth large; jaws strong, armed with blunt teeth; well 
developed teeth on vomer; long diameter of eye one third length 
of mandible; a broad flap above orbit; tip of maxillary, lower 
side of mandible, and margin of preopercle fringed with cirri; 
subopercle ending in a sharp spine; first dorsal small, placed 
over base of pectorals; second dorsal long, its base about one 
half of total length without caudal; pectorals broad, the width 
of their base equaling one half length of head. 

D. Ill, 26-28; A. 24. 

Color dark olive; under parts lighter; black markings on sides 
forming irregular bars; many pale or yellowish spots on body; 
soft dorsal, anal, pectoral, and caudal fins with light cross bands 
formed of light colored spots. 

In some parts of the south this species is known as the 
oysterfish^ from its habit of living in dead oyster shells. The' 
toadfish ranges on our east coast from Cape Cod to the Gulf of 
Mexico. The fish is said to grow to the length of 15 inches. It 
is a voracious species, feeding upon other fishes, and upon shell- 
fish, crabs and other Crustacea, annelids, etc. 

On rocky bottoms it occurs under stones, and on sandy and 
muddy areas it frequents localities abounding in eelgrass. The 
toadfish lies in concealment for its prey, and darts out quickly 
to effect a capture. Its breeding season is during the summer 






662 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

months. The habits are fully described by Storer in the Fishes 
of Massachusetts. The eggs adhere to stones in shallow water. 
By the end of August the young have reached a length of about 
one inch. The nest and young are guarded by the parent fish. 
The species is not an attractive one, and though the flesh is 
sweet and palatable it is rarely eaten. To the fishermen this is 
one of the worst nuisances in our waters, since it is always ready 
to take the hook and swallow the bait intended for more useful 
fish. In Great South bay the toadfish was taken at the mouth 
of Swan creek and in Blue Point cove late in September. Young 
individuals were collected September 10 at the Blue Point Life- 
saving station. 

In 1898 the toadfish was again found abundantly in Great 
South bay in August and September. They are distributed in 
all portions of the bay, except where the water is nearly fresh. 
In 1901 the eggs were found upon the point of hatching in the 
middle of July and in the month of August. On July 16, a lot 
of embryos measuring from -ft to ii of an inch were ob- 
tained. The eggs adhere firmly to the bark of stakes, or the 
undersurface of sunken wood, stones, or any other heavy sub- 
stance which will answer the purpose of concealment. 

The toadfish is not present in Gravesend bay in the hot sum- 
mer months. Most of the individuals taken were caught in 
August, September and October. It is possible to keep it in 
captivity during the summer months by careful management. 

Group BLENNIOIDEI 

Blenm/like Fishes 

Family blenniidae 

Blemiies 

Genus blennius (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body oblong, compressed, naked; head short, the profile 

usually bluntly rounded; mouth small, horizontal, with a single 

series of long, slender, curved, close set teeth in each jaw, 

besides which, in the lower jaw at least, is a rather short and 

stout fanglike canine tooth on each side; premaxillaries not 

protractile; gill openings wide, extending forward below, the 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 663 

membranes free from the isthmus, or at least forming a broad 
fold across it. Dorsal fin entire, or more or less emarginate, 
the spines slender; pectorals moderate; ventrals well developed, 
I, 3; no pyloric caeca; lateral line developed anteriorly. Species 
numerous, lurking under rocks and algae in most warm seas; 
some species in the lakes of northern Italy. The European 
species in general are larger in size than ours, with higher fins. 

324 Blennius fucorum (Cuv. & Yal.) 
Seaweed Blenwy 

Blennfus fucorum Ctjvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XI, 263, 
pi. 324, 1836, 240 miles south of Azores; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 
149, pi. 22, fig. 66, 1842, in seaweed, not far from New York coast; 
Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 217, 1861; Jordan & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 759, 1883; Jordan & Etermann, Bull. 47, 
U, S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2379, 1898. 

Blennius oceanicus Guvier & Valenciennes, op. cit. 265, 1836, open At- 
lantic, 29° N., 50° W. 

The length of the body is five times the length of the head; 
orbital cirri nearly as long as head, bifid above, and with fringes 
at the base; dorsal fin slightly emarginate, free from the caudal, 
the spines rather stiff. Head very short and deep, its profile 
nearly vertical; 24 teeth in each jaw; both jaws with very strong 
canines. Gill membranes free from isthmus posteriorly. Eyes 
very large, one third as long as head. D. XI, 17; A. 18. 

Color olive green, becoming darker above, with numerous 
brown spots on cheeks and sides of body; below faintly reddish; 
dorsal with a large black spot in front, behind which are some 
smaller spots; spinous dorsal edged with paler. 

The seaweed blenny was obtained by De Kay in a voyage from 
Constantinople to New Xpvk in 1831. He met the species 
swimming about seaweed not far from the coast of New York 
and made notes of it at the time, considering it as either a young 
individual of some larger species or undescribed. This specimen 
was not more than 1^ inches long. The type of the species was 
taken south of the Azores. The coloration as stated by De Kay 
is as follows: "Soiled greenish, changing to brownish above, 
with numerous brown spots on the cheeks and side of the body; 



664 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

throat and belly faintly rosaceous; iris bluish with reddish 
points radiating about the pupils." 

The largest specimen recorded is 2J inches long. 

Genus chasmodes Cuv. & Val. 
Body oblong, compressed, naked; head triangular in profile, 
the snout somewhat pointed; mouth large, with lateral cleft, 
the maxillary usually, but not always, extending to beyond eye ; 
premaxillaries not protractile; teeth in a single series, long and 
slender;, comblike, confined to the front of each jaw; no canines; 
cirri very small or wanting; gill openings very small, their lower 
edge above the middle of the base of the pectorals; lateral line 
incomplete. Fins as in B 1 e n n i u s. American. The species, 
with smaller mouth approach H y p • s o b 1 e n n i u s , which 
genus is not far separated from Chasmodes. 

325 Chasmodes bosquianus (Laeep&de) 
Panded Blenny 

Blennius bosquianus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. II, 493, pi. 13, fig. 1, 1800, 
South Carolina. 

Blennius pholis Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 374, 1815. 

Chasmodes boscianus Gttnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 229, 1861. 

Chasmodes bosquianus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XI, 295, 
pi. 327, 1836; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 151, pi. 24, fig. 73, 1842, 
New York Harbor; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 756, 
1883; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2394, 1898. 

The depth of the body is contained three and one half times 
in its length which is three and one half times the length of the 
head. Orbital tentacle very minute or wanting,; maxillary ex- 
tending to rather beyond eye; interocular space very narrow, 
not concave. Dorsal fin not emarginate, the spines slender. 
Dorsal joined to base of caudal; an«il free. D. XI, 19; A. 20. 

Color (in $ ) olive green, with about nine horizontal narrow 
blue lines, these somewhat irregular and interrupted, converg- 
ing backwards; opercular membrane and a broad stripe through 
middle of spinal dorsal deep orange yellow; anal fin dark, the 
rays with white membranaceous tips; ? dark olive green, 
reticulated with narrow pale green lines, and with several broad 
dark bars, which are more distinct posteriorly; vertical fins 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 665 

similarly marked; head finely dotted with black; a dusky spot 
at base of caudal in both sexes. New York to Florida. 

Mitchill found a specimen of this little blenny in an oyster, 
and described it under the name Blennius pholis. 
Another specimen was sent to Cuvier from New York, and a 
specimen in the Lyceum in New York, described by De Kay, was 
obtained from New York harbor. This blenny is common south- 
ward in shallow water. It seldom exceeds the length of 3J 

inches. 

Family xiphidiidae 

Rock Eels 
Genus pholis (Gronow) Scopoli 
Body long and low, considerably compressed, somewhat band- 
shaped, the tail slowly tapering; head small, compressed, naked; 
mouth rather small, oblique; jaws with rather small teeth in 
narrow bands or single series; vomer and palatines usually 
toothless; gill membranes broadly united, free from the isthmus; 
scales very small, smooth; no lateral line. Dorsal fin long and 
low, beginning near the head, composed entirely of stiff, sharp, 
subequal spines; anal similar in form, of two spines and many 
soft rays; caudal fin short and small, more or less joined to 
dorsal and anal; pectorals short, rather shorter than head; ven- 
trals very small, of one spine and a rudimentary ray; intestinal 
canal short, without caeca. Shore fishes of the Northern seas. 

326 Pholis gunnellus (Linnaeus) 
Butter fish; Rock Eel 

Blennius gunnellus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 257, 1758, Atlantic 

Ocean. 
Gentronotus gunnellus Bloch & Schneider, Syst. Ichth. 167, 1801; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 285, 1861. 
Ophidium mucronatum Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 249, 

pi. 2, fig. 1, 1815. 
Gunnellus mucronatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 153, pi. 12, fig. 36, 

1812, New York Harbor; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 94, pi. XVII, 

fig. 2, 1867. 
Aluraenoides gunnellus Goode & Bean. Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 11, 1879. 
Pholis gunnellus Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 1897; H. M. 

Smith, Bull. IT. S. F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 

47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2419, pi. CCCXLII, fig. 832, 1900. 



666 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Body much compressed, elongate, its greatest depth equal to 
length of head and one eighth to one seventh of the total length 
without the caudal. Eye small, twice width of interorbital 
space, and one fifth length of head. Maxillary one third as long 
as head, reaching to below front of orbit. Teeth blunt, in a 
single row, not close set. Origin of dorsal immediately over the 
gill opening; the longest spine as long as the snout; the fin separ- 
ated from the caudal by a slight notch. Pectoral about one half 
as long as head, reaching to below sixth spine of dorsal. Ven- 
tral minute. D. LXXVI to LXXXV; A. II, 38 to 44; V. I, 1; 
P. 12. 

Color grayish or brownish, with a series of oval vertical 
dusky rings on the sides; abdomen grayish white, tinged With 
yellow; dorsal fin gray, with about 14 black vertical distant 
stripes; pectorals and caudal yellow; anal fin greenish gray, with 
alternate darker stripes; iris white. 

This fish reaches the length of 12 inches. It is found in the 
North Atlantic from Labrador south to Gape Cod and from Nor- 
way south to France. 

Dr Smith states that this rock eel or butterfish is abundant 
around the shores in the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. in March 
and April, but is rare at other times. It may be taken in Vine- 
yard Sound with a dredge at almost any season at a depth of 4 
or 5 fathoms. It occurs only on gravelly bottoms. 

The *only individuals collected by myself were taken on the 
oyster beds at Eaton's Neck in the fall of 1896. The species does 
not live long in captivity. 

On June 6, 1899, Captain H. E. Swezey obtained a few 
specimens of this species on the ocean beach at Water Island. 
Mitchill described the rock eel or butterfish (Ophidium 
mucronatum) in Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y., I, 249, pi. II, 
fig. 1. De Kay says this fish " is frequently found among rocks 
along the seashore and in the mud. It swims with great rapid- 
ity although its usual habit is that, of creeping slowly among 
rocks, in which it is probably assisted by its spiny ventrals. It 
abounds in Robyn's reef, in the harbor of New York." 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 667 

Subfamily stichaeinae 
Genus ulvaria Jordan & Evermann 
This genus is very close to Eumesograrnmus, from 
which it differs in the absence of the lowermost or third lateral 
line, the median line being bifurcate. 

327 Ulvaria subbifurcata (Storer) 

Radiated Shanny 
Pholis subbifurcatus Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 63, 1839, Nahant, Mass.; 

Hist. Fish.. Mass. 92, 1867; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 150, 1842. 
Eumesoffranvnius subbifurcatus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 10, 

1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S: Nat. Mus. 775, 1883. 
Ulvaria subbifurcata Jordan & Evermann, Check-List Fish. N. & M. A. 

475, 1896; Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2440, 1898, pi. CCCXLY, 

fig. 842. 

Body moderately compressed, fusiform, its greatest depth 
about one fifth of the length without caudal. Head moderately 
large, nearly one fourth of total length without caudal; mouth 
large, the maxillary extending to below the middle of the eye, 
the jaws equal in front; eye large, a little longer than the snout, 
one fourth as long as the head. Dorsal origin at a distance 
from tip of snout equal to length of head; longest spines about 
in the middle of the fin two fifths as long as the head; first 
spine two thirds as long as the eye. Caudal rounded, its middle 
rays one half as long as the head. Anal origin under the 14th 
spine of the dorsal, the fin not extending to the caudal, its 
longest ray one third as long as the head. Pectoral ex- 
tending slightly past the vertical from the ninth spine of the 
■dorsal, its length one sixth of total without caudal. Ventral 
in advance of dorsal origin, three eighths as long as head. Back 
somewhat arched; ventral outline nearly straight. Median 
lateral line forked over the pectoral, the upper branch extend- 
ing about as far back as the extended pectoral. Scales very 
small. 

D. XLIV; A. 28 to 30; V. I, 3; P. 14. 

" Color, above reddish brown. Opercle and preopercle yel- 
lowish. Light colored circular patches along the base of the 
dorsal fin; beneath the lateral line lighter. Abdomen yellowish 



668 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

white. From beneath the eye, a broad black band, which is 
widest at its origin, crosses the opercle obliquely; two other 
bands of the same color extend from behind the eye backward, 
in nearly a straight line, to a distance of from one to two lines. 
Numerous black spots on the dorsal fin [one of these extending 
from the fifth to the tenth spine]. Pectorals light, with darker 
shades. Anal fin with a dark colored margin. Caudal with 
small dusky spots," sometimes forming about four narrow con- 
centric bars. 

The fish reaches the length of about 6 inches. 

This species is very rare in the North Atlantic, south to Cape 
Cod. Storer records the capture at Nahant Mass. in 1838. It 
has been taken by the U. S. Fish Commission at Grand Manan 
and Halifax, and by Prof. Verrill off Anticosti. De Kay had not 
met with the species in New York waters and his description 
is copied from that of Storer in his report upon Fishes of Massa- 
chusetts, page 63, 1839. De Kay called it the radiated shanny. 
Its occurrence in New York waters remains to be noted. 

Genus stichaeus Eeinhardt 
Body moderately elongate, covered with small scales; teeth 
on jaws, vomer, and palatines. Lateral line present, single, 
running along side of back; pectorals and ventrals well devel- 
oped. Dorsal moderately high, of spines only; gill openings con- 
tinued forward below, the membranes scarcely united to the 
isthmus; pyloric caeca present. Arctic seas. 

328 Stichaeus punctatus (Fabricius) 
Spotted Blermy 

Blennius punctatus Fabricius, Fauna Gronl. 153, 1780, Greenland. 

Clinus punctatus Richardson, Fauna Bor.-Amer. Ill, 88, 1836. 

Gunnellus punctatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XI, 428, 
1836. 

Stichaeus punctatus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 283, 1861; Jordan 
& Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mu^s. 775, 1883; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus, III, 2439, 1898, pi. OOCXLV, fig. 841, 1900. 

Body compressed, tapering at both ends, moderately elongate, 
its greatest depth one sixth to one seventh of total length with- 
out caudal. Head two ninths of total length without caudal; 



FISHES OF NEW YORK . 669 

mouth moderate, the maxillary extending to below front of 
pupil, one third as long as head, the lower jaw slightly shorter 
than upper; eye small, one fifth as long as head; snout slightly 
longer than eye. Dorsal origin over top of gill opening; dorsal 
fin subcontinuous with the caudal, its longest spine two sevenths 
as long as the head. Caudal fin rounded in adult (emarginate 
in young), the middle rays two thirds as long as the head. Anal 
origin under 17th spine of dorsal, the fin well separated from 
the caudal, its longest ray one third as long as the head. 
Pectoral extending to below the 14th spine of the dorsal, its 
length one sixth of the total without caudal. Ventral nearly 
under dorsal origin, one third as long as the head. Back little 
arched; ventral outline also arched. Lateral line single, in the 
upper fourth of the hight of body, and ending about the middle 
of the total length including caudal. Scales small, but larger 
than inUlvaria subbifurcata. D. XLVIII to L; A. 
32 to 36; V. I, 3; P. 15. 

Color bright scarlet, the cheeks with five or six small dark 
blotches; smaller dark blotches on opercle and interopercle; a 
dark streak from snout through eye and extending behind the 
eye; five roundish dark spots, about as long as the eye, each 
with a white band near its upper margin, on the dorsal fin at 
almost regular distances apart; the anal fin with eight to ten 
narrow oblique crossbars; caudal with about six narrow, con- 
centric, dark rings. 

This blenny inhabits the Arctic seas from Greenland to North 
Siberia, south to Bristol Bay and Cape Cod. Young individuals 
were found in considerable numbers in Plover bay, Siberia, and 
at Cape Lisburne, Alaska. The species grows to the length of 
about 7 inches. The young are so different in appearance from 
the adult that they have been described as the type of a distinct 
genus. The occurrence of the species in New York waters is 
very doubtful. 

Genus lumpenus Bernhardt 

Body greatly elongate, moderately compressed, covered with 
small scales; lateral line indistinct or obsolete; head long; snout 






670 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

short; no cirri; eyes large, placed high; mouth moderate, with 
a single row of rather small conic teeth on each jaw, palatine 
teeth present or absent; f gill openings prolonged forward below, 
very narrowly united anteriorly to the isthmus, not forming a 
free fold across it; dorsal composed of numerous sharp, flex- 
ible, rather high spines; caudal fin long; anal many-rayed; 
pectorals large, more than one half length of head, the middle 
rays longest; ventrals well developed, jugular, I, 3 or I, 4; intes- 
tinal canal long; pyloric caeca present; no air bladder. Chiefly 
herbivorous. Northern seas. 

Subgenus leptoblennius Gill 

329 Lumpenus lampetraeformis (Walbaum) 

Eel Blenny; Snakefish 

Blennius lampetraeformis Walbaum, Artedi Gen. Pise. Ill, 184, 1792; 

Iceland. 
Blennius serpentinus Stoker, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist. Ill, 30, 1848; 

Massachusetts Bay; Hist. Fish. Mass. 91, pi. XVII, fig. 1, 1867. 
Leptoolennius serpentinus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 10, 1879; 

Massachusetts Bay; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

778, 1883. 
Stichaeus islandicus Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 281, 1861. 
Lumpenus lampetraeformis Oollett, Norske Nord-Havs Exp. 71, 1880; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 778, 1883; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2438, pi. CGCXLIV, fig. 

840, 1898. 

The depth of the body is one fifteenth of the length, which is 
nine times the length of the head. Head not large, its sides 
sparsely covered with small scales; eye as long as snout; maxil- 
lary reaching front of pupil; gill openings extending forward 
below for a distance less than length of snout; pectorals 
long, seven eighths length of head; ventrals moderate, two and 
two thirds in head. D. LXXV; A. 50; V. I, 3. 

Olive above with lighter cloudings; pale below; dorsal fin 
brownish, with broad, oblique, white bands; pectorals pale. 

The snakefish inhabits the North Atlantic and Arctic on both 
shores, ranging south to Sweden and Norway, east to Spitz- 
bergen; on our coast extending south to Cape Cod and perhaps 
Long Island. It is a common resident of the deep waters of 
Massachusetts bay, where it is a favorite food of the cod and 



FISHES OF NEW YORK . G71 

halibut. The species grows to the length of 12 to 15 inches. 
Other names for it are eel blenny and snake blenny. No record 
of its occurrence in New York waters has yet appeared, but it 
may be found in moderate depths off Long Island. 

Family cryptacanthodidae 

Wrymouths 

Genus cryptacaxthodes Storer 

Body long and slender, compressed, naked, without lateral 

line; head cuboid, with vertical cheeks and conspicuous mucifer- 

ous cavities; eyes small, placed high; mouth large, very oblique, 

the very heavy lower jaw prominent in front; jaws, vomer, and 

palatines with sjoutish conic teeth, in few series; gill openings 

prolonged forward below, narrowly attached to the isthmus; 

dorsal fin of stoutish spines, hidden in the skin; dorsal and anal 

joined to caudal; pectorals short; ventrals wanting. 

330 Cryptacanthodes maculatus Storer 

Ghostfish; Wrymouth 

Cryptacantlwdes macukitus Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 28, 1839; Hist. Fish. 
Mass. 34, pi. VIII, fig. 6, 1867; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 63, 
pi. 18, fig. 50, 1842, from Massachusetts specimen; Ltnsley, Am. 
Jour. Sci. Arts, XLVII, 60, 1844, Long, Island Sound; Gunther, Cat. 
Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 291, 1861; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. 
XI, 10, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16. U. S. Nat. Mus. 780, 1883; 
H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2443, 1898, IV, pi. CCCXLV, fig. 843, 
1900. 

The depth of the body is one thirteenth of the length, which is 
six and one half times the length of the head. Eyes small, 
placed high, not so wide as interorbital space, which has two 
ridges and three pits; orbital rim raised; two deep pits behind 
eye at the temples,^a deeper pit on top of head between them; 
a raised ridge continued backward on each side of head behind 
orbital rim; maxillary extending to beyond eye; pseudobranchiae 
small; pectorals short, three in head, their tips reaching beyond 
front of dorsal; vent a little in front of the middle of the body. 

D. LXXIII; A. 50. 

Light brownish, with several series of smallish dark spots, 
arranged in more or less regular rows, from the head to the 



672 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

base of the caudal; vertical fin closely spotted with darker; 
head above thickly speckled; body sometimes (" inornatus ") 
entirely immaculate. The wrymouth or ghostfish has been taken 
from Labrador to Long Island sound. It is recorded by Linsley 
in his catalogue of the Fishes of Connecticut, The species grows 
to a length of 24 inches or more. According to Dr Smith, it 
is very rare at Woods Hole Mass. A specimen from Woods: Hole, 
now in the National Museum, was taken about 1875. Sep. 18, 
1896, an individual 18 inches long was caught there in a fyke 
net set in Great harbor. In Massachusetts bay the fish is also 
rather rare. Storer, in his History of the Fishes of Massachusetts, 
1867, mentioned seven specimens: one from Nahant, one from 
Dorchester, one from Provincetown, three from Massachusetts 
bay; the seventh was from a beach in Nova Scotia. The U. S. 
Fish Commission collected seven specimens on the coast of Mass- 
achusetts previous to 1879. There is an albino form of this fish, 
of which four individuals were known prior to 1879. One of 
these was obtained at Marblehead and another at Swampscott. 

Family anarhichadidae 
Wolf Fishes 
Genus anarhichas (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body moderately elongate, covered with rudimentary scales; 
head scaleless, without cirri, compressed, narrowed above, the 
profile strongly decurved; mouth wide, oblique; premaxillary 
not protractile; jaws with very. strong conic canines anteriorly; 
lateral teeth of lower jaw either molars or with pointed tuber- 
cles; upper jaw without lateral teeth; vomer extremely thick 
and solid, with 2 series of coarse molar teeth; palatines with 
one or two similar series; gill membranes broadly joined to the 
isthmus; no lateral line; dorsal fin rather high, composed en- 
tirely of flexible spines which are enveloped in the skin; anal 
fin lower; caudal fin developed, free from dorsal and anal; no 
ventral fins; pectoral fins broad, placed low; air bladder present; 
no pyloric caeca. Northern seas. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 673 

331 Anarhichas lupus Linnaeus 
Wolf Fish 

Anarhichas lupus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, 247, 1758; H. M. Smith. 

Bull. U. S.,F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & Evermann. Bull. 47. 

U. S. Xat. Mus. Ill, 2446, 1898; IV, pi. CCCXLVII, fig. 846, 1900. 
Anarrhicas lupus Mitchell, Am. Month. Mag. II, 242, February, 1818: 

Stoker, Rep. Fish. Mass. 69, 1839; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 158, 

pi. 16, fig. 43, 1842. 
Aftarrhichas lupus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 11, 1879. 
Anarrhichas vomer inus Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 99, pi. XVIII, fig. 1, 1867. 

The depth of the body is contained fiye and one half times in 
its length, which is six times the length of the head. Maxillary 
reaches beyond orbit; band of vomerine teeth extending much 
farther back than the short palatine band; pectorals large, 
rounded, two thirds length of head; dorsal high, beginning over 
the gill openings, its longest rays about half length of head. 

D. LXII; A. 42. 

Brownish; sides with numerous (9-12) very dark transverse 
bars, which are continued on the dorsal fin, besides numerous 
dark spots and reticulations; fins dark; caudal tipped with 
reddish. 

This is the sea wolf of Mitchill, mentioned by him in the 
American Monthly Magazine, v. 2, p. 242. De Kay writes of the 
species as follows: 

The voracious and savage character of this fish is manifest 
in the formidable array of teeth with which he is provided, and 
by his vicious and pugnacious propensities when first drawn 
from the water. . . He is known under the various popular 
names of cat, wolf fish, and sea cat. His ill-favored aspect 
causes him to be regarded with aversion by fishermen, but his 
flesh is by no means unsavory; when smoked it is said to have 
somewhat the flavor of salmon. He prefers rocky coasts and is 
said to spawn in May. Not unfrequently taken off Rockaway 
beach, as I am informed, in company with the common cod. This 
I suppose to be the most extreme southerly limit yet observed. 
In high northern latitudes it is said to attain to the length of 
6 and 8 feet. 

In the deep waters of Massachusetts bay it occurs frequently, 
approaching the shore, particularly in winter. In Vineyard 
sound it is quite rare and has been taken late in fall in traps 



074 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and also on lines fished for cod. The range of the species is, in 
the north Atlantic, south to Cape Cod and France. It is rather 
common both in America and Europe. In Norway the skin of 
the fish is tanned and makes a very good leather. 

Group OPHIDIOIDEI 

EeVpouts 
Family zoarcidae 
Genus zoarges Gill 
Body elongate, compressed, tapering posteriorly; head oblong, 
heavy, narrowed above, the profile decurved; mouth large; teeth 
strong, conic, bluntish, in two series in the front of each jaw 
and one series on the sides; teeth in outer series larger; no teeth 
on vomer or palatines; dorsal fin very long, low, some' of j.ts 
posterior rays much lower than the others, developed as sharp 
spines; pectoral fins broad; ventrals jugular, of three or four 
soft rays; scales small, not imbricated, embedded in the skin; 
lateral line slender, lateral in position; size large; species vivi- 
parous. The American and Asiatic species (subgenus Macro- 
z o a r c e s ) differ from the European type of Zoarces 
(Cuvier) in the increased number of fin rays and vertebrae. In 
Zoarces viviparus (Linnaeus), the European eelpout, the 
dorsal rays are about 100, the anal about 85, and the number 
of vertebrae is proportionally diminished. 

332 Zoarces anguillaris (Peck) 
Muttonfish; Ling; Eelpout 

Blennius anguillaris Peck, Mem. Am. Ac. Sci. II, 46, figure, 1804, New 

Hampshire. 
Blennius ciliatus Mitchtle, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 374, pi. I, fig. 6, 

1815. 
Blennius laorosus Mitchill, op. cit. 375, pi. I, fig. 7, 1815. 
Zoarces anguillaris Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 66, 1839; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna, Fishes, 155, pi. 16, fig. 45, 1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 

Ill, 296, 1861; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 97, pi. XVII, fig. 4, 1867; 

Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 9, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert. 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 784, 1883; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 

2457, 1898; IV, pi. COOXLVIII, fig. 850, 1900. 

The depth of the body is one seventh of the length, which is 
six times the length of the head. Maxillary reaching beyond 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



675 



orbit; pectoral long, about two thirds length of head; ventrals 
one fifth head; highest ray of dorsal abont equal to snout; the 
posterior spines about one third length of eye; first ray of 
dorsal aboye preopercle. D. 95, XVIII, 17; A. 105. 

Reddish brown, mottled with olive, the scales paler than the 
skin about them; dorsal fin marked with darker; a dark streak 
from eye across cheek and opercles; lower jaw included. 

This fish grows to the length of about 3 feet. De Kay noticed 
it most abundantly in the New York market in February and 
March. He states that it is caught on the coast in company 
with the common cod. It feeds on various marine shells and 
affords a very savory food. At the time of his writing it was 
called by the fishermen ling and conger eel. De Kay employed 
for it the English name eelpout. Fishermen who go out for cod 
off Sandy Hook at the present time catch this fish in large 
numbers and know it under the name of muttonfish. The range 
of the fish is from Labrador to Delaware. It is rather common 
north of Cape Cod. Dr Smith says it is abundant in the fall 
off Gayhead and Cuttyhunk; it is caught while line fishing for 
cod on rock bottom and occasionally late in fall in Vineyard 
sound, off Great harbor, on lines baited for tautog. In Massa- 
chusetts bay it is a common resident of deep water, frequently 
approaching the shore. 

Family ophidiidae 
Genus rissola Jordan & Evermann 
This genus contains species agreeing with Ophidion in 
general characters, but with the air bladder short, broad, sphe- 
rical or kidney-shaped, with a posterior foramen. Species 
chiefly of the Mediterranean. 

333 Bissola marginata (De Kay) 
Slippery Dick 

Ophidium marginatum De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 315, pi. 52, fig. 169, 
1842, New York Harbor; Baird, Ninth Ann. Rep. Smith. Inst. 351, 
1855; Jordan & Gilrert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 792, 1883; Bean, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 135, 1888. 

Rissola marginata Jordan & Evermann, Check-List Fish. N. & M. A. 483, 
1896; Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2489, 1898; IV, pi. OCCLIII, fig. 
868, 1900; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 370, 1897. 



070 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Ophidium harbatnm Mitchill, Trans. Lit & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 362, pi. I, 
fig. 2, 1815. 

De Kay writes of the species as follows: 

This very rare and curious species was taken in a seine in the 
harbor of New York in company with a school of the striped 
bass. It is doubtless the O. barbatum -of my venerable 
friend, Dr Mitchill, which is too succinctly noted in the work 
cited above. . . It has so much the habit of some of the Gadidae, 
and more especially of the genus Brotula, that our fisher- 
men call it the little cusk. 

The fish inhabits the coast of the United States from New 
York south to Pensacola and Texas. It is not very common. 
It grows to t ne length of about 10 inches. A specimen was 
taken in Great Egg Harbor bay during the winter of 1853-54, 
but collectors who have visited the region since have not found 
it again. In Gravesend bay, where the species is rare, an exam- 
ple was obtained Oct. 24, 1894. The fish is known there as 
Slippery Dick. 

Suborder CRANIOMI 

Family triglidae 
Gurnards 
Genus prionotus Lacep&de 
Body subfusiform; profile of head descending to the broad, 
depressed snout, which is much longer than the small eye; eyes 
close together, high up; surface of head entirely bony, the bones 
rough with ridges and granulations; scales on head few or none; 
preopercle with one or two sharp spines at its angle; opercle 
with a sharp spine; nape with two strong spines, a spine on 
shoulder girdle; mouth rather broad; bands of small, almost 
granular, teeth on jaws, vomer, and palatines; gill membranes 
nearly separate, free from isthmus; gill rakers rather long; 
body covered with small, rough scales, which are not keeled; 
lateral line continuous; scales on breast very small; dorsal fins 
distinct, the first of 8 to 10 rather stout spines, the third usually 
highest, but mostly shorter than head; anal fin similar to soft 
dorsal; pectoral fin with the three lower anterior rays thickened, 
entirely free from each other and from the fin; ventrals I, 5, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 677 

wide apart, with a flat space between them, the inner rays 
longest; pyloric caeca in moderate number; air bladder generally 
with lateral muscles and divided into two lateral parts; ver- 
tebrae 10 or 11 + 15. Species numerous, all but one being Amer- 
ican. Representing in America the old world genus T r i g 1 a . 
Some of them in deep water. They are well defined and easily 
recognized, but vary considerably with age, and are not easily 
thrown into subordinate groups. . . Young examples in most 
cases differ from the adults in the following respects, in addi- 
tion to those characters which usually distinguish young fishes. 
The spines on the head are sharper, more conspicuous, and more 
compressed in the young, and some spines, specially those on the 
side of the head, disappear entirely with age. The interorbital 
space is more concave |n the young. The pectoral fins are also 
much shorter. The gill rakers are longer in the young, and pro- 
portionately more slender, and some of the color markings — 
specially the darker cross shades — are more conspicuous, while 
the spots on body and fins are less so. 

334 Prionotus carolinus (Linnaeus) 

Sea Robin; Gurnard 

Trigla Carolina Linnaeus, Mantissa, 528. 

Trigla palmipes Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 431, pi. IV, fig. 5, 

1815, New York Harbor. 
Prionotus palmipes Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 18, pi. Y, fig. 1, 1867; Jordan 
, & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mns. 734, 1883; Goode, Fish & Fish. 

Ind. U. S. I, 255, pi. 71, 1884. 
Prionotus carolinus Ctjvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. VI, 90, 1829; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 46, pi. 5, fig. 15, 1842; Gunther, Cat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 192, 1860; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 

371, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & 

EVermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 2156, 1898; IV, pi. CCCXVIII, 

fig. 768, 1900. 

The depth of the body is one fifth of the length, which is three 
times the length of the head. Head comparatively smooth; pre- 
opercular spine strong; band of palatine teeth short and broad, 
shorter than eye; pectorals short, not reaching middle of second 
dorsal, two and one third in length; pectoral appendages strong, 
more or less dilated at their tips; ventrals long, reaching anal; 



678 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

gill rakers rather short, about 10 below angle ; maxillary three 
and one third in head. D. X-13; A. 12; Lat. 1. .58. 

Brownish above, clouded with darker; throat and branchio- 
stegals dark; a distinct dark blotch above on membrane be- 
tween fourth and fifth dorsal spines, this ocellated below; two 
longitudinal light streaks below dorsal blotch; second dorsal 
with oblique whitish streaks. 

The sea robin, known also as the red-winged sea robin, com- 
mon gurnard, flying fishj butterfly fish, wingfish, grunter, and 
cuckoo fish, is very common on our east coast, its range extend- 
ing from the coast of Maine to South Carolina, chiefly north- 
ward. The name flying fish is applied to the species in Great 
Egg bay, N. J. This sea robin appears in Gravesend bay 
in May, and is caught in the shad fyke nets. It is the earliest 
of the sea robins to arrive. At Woods Hole Mass., accord- 
ing to Br Smith, it appears in May or June and remains till 
October or later, and it is more abundant than the striped sea 
robin. 

This fish grows to the length of about 1 foot. It is not a mar- 
ketable fish, and causes fishermen a great deal of annoyance by 
its wonderful voracity, and yet its flesh is firm and white, and 
the species deserves a place among the food fishes. It feeds on 
crabs, shrimp and similar crustaceans, and occurs on clean bot- 
toms. This sea robin ^begins to spawn at Woods Hole early in 
June. Its eggs are bright orange. The young are very common 
in Waquoit bay in summer, but are rather rare elsewhere. The 
young were found in Great South bay, at Point of Woods, and 
both sides of Fire Island inlet in August and September* 
Adults are also found in large numbers at Fire Island and at 
other parts of Great South bay. This fish is taken in enormous 
numbers in pound nets in spring and summer. Curiously 
enough, De Kay refers to this as a very rare species. He says 
that in the course of eight years he has not met with more than 
six or eight individuals. One specimen which he examined, had 
its stomach filled with the remains of crabs. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 679 

335 Prionotus strigatus Cuv. & Val. 
Red-winged Sea Robin 

Trigla lineata Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 430, pi. IV, fig. 4, 

1815; not Trigla lineata Bloch. 
Trigla strigata Ctjvier, Regne Anim. ed. II, 2, 161, 1829, New York. 
■Prionotus Uneatus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 45, pi. 4, fig. 12, 1842; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 192, 1860. 
Prionotus evolans var. Uneatus, Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

736, 1883. 
Prionotus evolans Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 255, pi. 71, 1884; not 

Trigla evolans Linnaeus. 
Prionotus strigatus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist Nat. Poiss. IV, 86, 1829; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 974, 1883; Bean, 

19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 250, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

IX, 371, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. uJ S. F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan 

& Evermann,.Bu11. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. II, 2167, 1898. 

The length of the head is contained two and two thirds times 
in the length of the body, which is four and one half times the 
depth of the body. The length of the eye is contained two and 
one half times in the length of the snout. Gill rakers rather 
long and slender, 15 below angle; band of palatine teeth wide, 
shorter than eye; spines on head moderate in size, compressed, 
the one at upper posterior angle of orbit little developed; mem- 
branous edge of opercle scaly; ventral reaching to front of 
anal; pectoral reaching past middle of soft dorsal and anal, from 
one and seven eighths to two and one fourth in length. 
D. X-12; A. 11; Lat. 1. about 60. 

Olive brown above, mottled and spotted with blackish; whit- 
ish below; a narrow streak along the lateral line, with a broader 
one below it, which terminates behind in a series of spots and 
blotches; lower jaw and branchiostegal membranes sometimes 
bright orange yellow; pectorals blackish edged with olivaceous 
and orange, with numerous transverse dark lines; membrane 
of spinous dorsal with a black blotch between third and sixth 
spines; soft dorsal plain or with two black blotches at base; 
ventrals and anal orange; pectoral appendages slender, dusky. 
Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras; common northward. Perhaps a 
distinct species but seeming to vary into P. evolans. 



680 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The red-winged sea robin is distinguished from the striped 
sea robin by the following characters: pectoral with its rays 
each crossed by fine black bars, these specially distinct toward 
the base of the fin; free rays spotted; scales comparatively 
small, 10+1+23 in a vertical line from last dorsal spine to vent; 
inter orbital area broad and almost flat, its width a little more 
than length of eye; first dorsal spine granulated; second spine 
four elevenths length of head; pectorals about one half as long 
as body. 

In the striped sea robin the pectoral rays are all plain black- 
ish; free rays plain dusky; scales 8+1+21 in a vertical line from 
last dorsal spine to vent; interorbital space more deeply corn 
cave, its width in adult not quite length of eye; first dorsal 
spine nearly smooth; second spine one third length of head;, 
pectorals a little more than one half as long as body. 

This fish is found on our Atlantic coast from Cape Cod to 
Virginia. It is very common in shallow water and is extremely 
close to P r i o n o t u s e v o 1 a n s , of which it may be a geo- 
graphic variety. Drs Jordan and Evermann have not however 
seen examples intermediate between the striped sea robin and 
the red-winged species. This fish is the Prionotus line- 
atus of De Kay. 1 De Kay distinguishes this fish, which he 
calls the banded gurnard, by the broad, reddish brown line along 
the sides below the lateral line, as well as by other characters. 
He says it is not uncommon and is known under the various 
popular names, grunter, gurnard, sea robin and flying fish. He 
states that the banded gurnard is seldom eaten as food. This 
is also the gurnard or sea robin, T r i g 1 a 1 i n e a t a , of 
Mitchill in the Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 430, pi. 4, fig. 4. 
1815. 

The red-winged sea robin comes into Gravesend bay in May, 
but later than the common species. It was found more abun- 
dantly in Great South bay than the unstriped species. Indi- 
viduals were taken in Blue Point cove, and at Fire Island, late 
in September. This fish grows larger than the other species 

a New York Fauna, Fishes. 1842. p. 45, pi. 4, fig. 12. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



681 



and is much handsomer; the young are specially interesting on 
account of the great development of their pectoral fins. 

336 Prionotus tribulus (Cuvier). 

Big-headed Sea Robin 

Trigla tribulus Cuviee, Regne Anim. ed. 2, II, 161, 1829, America. 
Prionotus tribulus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 98, pi. 74, 

1829, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes 48, pi. 70, fig. 226, 1842; 

Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 195, 1860; Joedan & Gilbeet, Bull. 

16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 735, 1883; Joedan & Evebmann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. II, 2171, 1898. 

Pectorals rather short, not reaching end of dorsal, twice in 
length to base of caudal; pectoral appendages thick, tapering. 
Body robust. The depth is one fourth of the length of the body, 
which is two and one half times the length of the head. Head 
shorter and broader, snout shorter, and bones more strongly 
striate than in P. e v o 1 a n s ; interorbital space deeply con- 
cave; occipital and superorbital spines very strong and much 
compressed; band of palatine teeth as long as eye; gill rakers 
shortish, nine below angle; membranous edge of opercle scaly. 
D. X-12; A. 11; Lat. 1. about 50. 

Dark brown above, with darker blotches and numerous small, 
pale spots; belly pale; a black blotch at base of mandible; mem- 
brane of spinous dorsal, between the third and sixth spines, with 
a black blotch above; second dorsal with brownish spots, form- 
ing oblique bars, and with two dark blotches at base, the pos- 
terior blotch continued obliquely downward and forward to 
below the lateral line; pectoral olive brown, with dark cross- 
bars, which are more distinct toward the tip of the fin, its upper 
edge white, pectoral appendages with dark spots; basal half of 
caudal paler. 

This gurnard is very common on the south Atlantic coast 
and occasionally ranges northward to Long Island. It is well 
separated from the other sea robins of the Atlantic by the 
greater development of the spines of the head. " The young 
have these spines much larger and more compressed than the 
adult, and in the very young three or four strong knifelike 



682 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

spines are developed on each side of the snout. In very young 
individuals the spine at the base of the preopercular spine is 
much larger than the latter." De Kay obtains his description 
of this fish from Cuvier and Valenciennes, but he saw very small 
individuals which he at first confounded with the young of the 
red- winged sea robin. Cuvier states that he received numerous 
specimens of the species from New York. De Kay mentions 
among the characteristics of the fish the long pectoral which 
reaches the end of the anal fin and acute spines of the head 
which are flattened like sword blades. As for colors he gives 
the following: " The first dorsal fin has a black spot between 
the fourth and sixth ray. The second with two black spots 
along its base-^one from the fifth to the seventh, the other 
between the fourth and sixth rays; pectorals blackish, more spe- 
cially on the interior where the upper border is whitish. Body 
brownish above, lightish beneath." Specimens 8 inches long are 
recorded. 

Genus trigla (Artedi) Linnaeus 

This genus differs from Ohelidonichthys, with which 

it agrees in the absence of palatine teeth, in having the sides of 

the body armed with transverse bony plates, crossing the lateral 

line. Species numerous; very abundant in the Mediterranean. 

Genus ohelidonichthys Kaup 
This genus differs from Prionotus chiefly in the absence 
of palatine teeth. The scales are much smaller, and the pec- 
toral fins less developed; a series of bony, spinous plates ex- 
tends along the base of the dorsal fin, a pair of them to each ray, 
the fin thus running in a shallow groove; there are no plates 
along the lateral line; caudal fin usually emarginate; lateral 
line usually forked at base of caudal, the branches running to 
tip of fin. The numerous species abound on the coasts of Eu- 
rope, Africa and India, ranging north to Japan. 

337 Trigla cuculus Linnaeus 

Red Gurnard 

Trigla cuculus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 301, 1758; Cuvier & Valen- 
ciennes, Hist. Nat. Polss. IV, 26, 1829; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 
43, pi. 70, fig. 225, 1842; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. II, 2177, 1898. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 683 

The depth of the body is one fifth of the length, which is three 
and one half times the length of the head. Kose-red; profile of 
snout rather steep, slightly concave; preorbital with short denti- 
culations; maxillary nearly reaching front of orbit; lateral line 
with a series of unarmed plates, which are deeper than long; 
first dorsal spine tuberculated; second longest, two thirds length 
of head; pectoral reaching past front of anal. D. IX-18; A. 17; 
Lat. 1. 75.' 

The red gurnard is a native of southern Europe. It is said 
by Cuvier to have been once brought from Xew York by Milbert, 
but this is a very doubtful record, as no collector has recently 
found any species of T r i g 1 a in American waters. De Kay 
did not see this fish on the coast of New York, and he copied 
his description from Cuvier and Valenciennes. De Kay states 
that Cuvier and Valenciennes mention having received " a spe- 
cimen from Xew York, which so much resembles the T. cucu- 
1 u s , not only in all its generalities but even in its most minute 
details, that it is very difficult for us not to consider it the same 
species; but, as our specimen was not recent, it may possibly 
present some distinct characters." 

Family cef»halac^>:thidae: 

Flying Gurnards 
Genus cephal acanthus LacCpede 
Body elongate, subquadrangular, tapering behind; head very 
blunt, quadrangular, its surface almost entirely bony; nasals, 
preorbitals, suborbitals, and bones of top of head united into 
a shield; nuchal part of shield on each side produced backward 
in a bony ridge, ending in a strong spine, which reaches past 
front of dorsal; interocular space deeply concave; preorbitals 
forming a projecting roof above the jaws; preopercle produced 
in a very long rough spine; cheeks and opercles with small 
scales; opercle smaller than eye; gill openings narrow, vertical, 
separated by a very broad, scaly isthmus; pseudobranchiae 
large; gill rakers minute; mouth small, lower jaw included; jaws 
with granular teeth; no teeth on vomer or palatines; scales 



684: NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

bony, strongly keeled; two serrated, knifelike appendages at 
base of tail; first dorsal of four or five rather high flexible spines, 
the first one or two spines nearly free from the others; an 
immovable spine between the dorsals; anal and second dorsal 
short, of slender rays; caudal small, lunate; pectoral fins divided 
to the base into two parts, the anterior portion about as long 
as the head, of about six rays, closely connected; the posterior 
and larger portion more than twice length of head, reaching 
nearly to caudal in the adult, much shorter in.the young; these 
rays very slender, simple, wide apart at tip; ventral rays I, 4, 
the long fins pointed, their bases close together, the inner rays 
shortest; air bladder with two lateral parts, each with a large 
muscle; pyloric caeca numerous; vertebrae 9+13=22. Warm 
seas; the adult able to move in the air like the true flying fish, 
but for shorter distances. Two species known, one of them 
(0. spinarella) East Indian. 

338 Cephalacanthus volitans (Linnaeus) 

Flying Gurnard; Flying Robin 

T rigid volitans Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 302, 1758. 

Polynemus secoradiatus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, pi. IV, 

fig. 10, 1815; Am. Month. Mag. II, 323, March, 1818. 
Dactylopterus volitans Cttvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 117. 

1829; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 49, pi. 17, fig. 46; Gunther, Cat. 

Fish. Brit. Mus. 11, 221, 1860. 
Cephalacanthus volitans Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 136, 18881 Bull. Am. 

Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 371, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 

106, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. II, 2183, 

1898; IV, pi. OOCXXIII, fig. 778, 1900. 

Body elongate, subquadrangular, tapering to caudal, its depth 
about one sixth of total length; profile blunt, the head being 
quadrangular in shape; mouth rather small, the lower jaw in- 
cluded; granular teeth in jaws; no teeth on vomer and pala- 
tines; eye large, its diameter being contained about three and 
one half times in length of head; bones of top of head, pre- 
orbitals, and suborbitals, forming a shield, the nuchal part on 
each side being produced backward in a bony ridge and ending 
in a strong spine which reaches to the fourth or fifth dorsal 
spine; another spine extends backward from the preopercle 
past ventrals; pectorals in adults reaching almost to caudal, 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 685 

shorter in the young; the first dorsal originates over the ven- 
trals, its longest spine is equal in length to the distance from 
tip of snout to posterior margin of orbit; the second dorsal 
rays are slightly longer; anal base shorter than either dorsal 
base, equal to base of first six rays of second dorsal; caudal 
emarginate; ventrals as long as head. D. II-Y 3 8; A. 6. 

Color of varying shades of greenish, olive, and reddish brown 
on upper parts of body, paler underneath; irregular markings 
of dusky and vermilion, varying to salmon yellow; pectorals 
with bright blue streaks near base, and blue spots and bars 
toward the tip, their under sides glaucous blue edged with 
darker; three brownish red bars on caudal fin. 

The flying gurnard is found in the Atlantic ocean on both 
coasts. It is very abundant on our south Atlantic coast and 
in the Gulf of Mexico. It ranges as far north as Cape Cod. 
Several specimens were obtained in Great Egg Harbor bay in 
August and September 1887. Their lengths were respectively 
2-J, 6J and 7-ftr inches. In Gravesend bay, L. I., this is an uncom- 
mon species. An individual was taken there Oct. 30, 1897. Br 
Smith says that a few are taken every year late in the fall in 
the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. They sometimes come ashore 
in Buzzards bay and Vineyard sound, benumbed by cold. They 
are not so abundant now as they were prior to 1887. Mitchill 
described and figured the fish in 1815 under the name P o 1 y n e - 
mus sexradiatus. 

De Kay calls it the sea swallow and has the following notes 
on it: 

Dr Mitchill, in his memoir on the Fishes of New York in 1814 
(1815), gave a good figure of this species; and in his supplement 
to this memoir in the American Monthly Magazine in 1818 fur- 
nished a detailed description which sufficiently establishes its 
identity with D. volitans... The subject of our examina- 
tion was caught in a net in the harbor in the month of August. 
If our species be identical with that of Europe, it has a wide 
geographical distribution. On the American coast it ranges 
from Brazil to Newfoundland. By means of its immense pec- 
torals, it is enabled to spring from the ocean and support itself 
for some time in the air. This is often done to protect itself 
from its enemies. It feeds on various small Crustacea. 



686 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Suborder discocephali 
Family echeneididae 
Remoras 
Genus echeneis (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Body comparatively elongate, the vertebrae 14+16=30; disk 
long, of 20 to 28 laminae; pectoral pointed, its rays soft and 
flexible; soft dorsal and anal long, of 30 to 41 rays each; caudal 
lunate in the adult, convex in the young. Species of wide dis- 
tribution, attaching themselves mainly to sea turtles and large 
fishes. 

339 Echeneis naucrates Linnaeus 

SharksucJcer ; Sucking Fish 

Echeneis neuerates (misprint for naucrates) Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 

261, 1758. 
Eclieneis naucrates Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 377, 1815; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fish. 308, 1842; Gunthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. 

Mus. II, 384, 1860; Jobdan & Gilbeet, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 416, 

1883; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 371, 1897; H. M. Smith, 

Bull. U. S. F. O. 1897, 106, 1898; Joedan & Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. Ill, 2269, 1898; IV, pi. CCCXXIX, fig. 796, 1900. 
Echeneis albacauda Mitchill, Am. Month. Mag. II, 244, February, 1818. 
Echeneis alUcauda De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fish. 307, pi. 54, fig. 177, 1842; 

Long Island; Hudson River. 

Body elongate, subterete, slender. The length of the body is 
five and one half times the length of the head. The disk is con- 
tained three and two thirds times in the length of the body, 
which is about seven and one half times the width between the 
pectorals; disk long. Dorsal and anal fins longer than the disk; 
inner rays of ventral fin narrowly adnate to the abdomen; caudal 
becoming emarginate with age. Vertebrae 14+16. Vertical fins 
low; pectorals three fourths length of head, rather long and 
acute; lower jaw projecting, with the tip flexible; maxillary 
barely reaching vertical from nostril. D. XXI to XXV-32 to 
41; A. 34 (32-38). 

Brownish; the belly dark like the back, as usual in this family; 
sides with a broad stripe of darker edged with whitish, extending 
through eye to snout; caudal black, its outer angle whitish; 
pectorals and ventrals black, sometimes bordered with pale; 
dorsal and anal broadly edged with white anteriorly. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 687 

The sharksucker or sucking fish is also known as the remora. 
It inhabits all warm seas, ranging north to Cape Cod and San 
Francisco. De Kay describes this species under the name of 
the white-tailed remora, and the Indian remora. He figures the 
species on pi. 54, fig. 177, of his New York Fauna. He says it is 
not uncommon on the coast of Long Island, and has been several 
times brought to him by those who took it in ordinary seines. 
He states that it is called sharksucker. He saw a specimen 
which had ascended a considerable distance up the Hudson river. 
He states further that it appears most commonly in" July and 
August. In Mitchill's account of the fishes of New York, an 
individual measuring 31 inches in length, and weighing 4 pounds 
10 ounces is mentioned. In Gravesend bay the species is found 
in summer only attached to sharks, usually the sand shark, 
Carcharias littoralis. An individual obtained there 
July 28, 1897, lived and fed till November 13, when it ceased feed- 
ing, and Nov. 23 it died because of the low temperature of the 
water. In captivity the fish usually remains stationary on the 
bottom, with the head and anterior part of the body slightly 
raised, but will often rise to the surface to take pieces of clam or 
fish from the hand. 

At Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, the fish is not 
uncommon. An example 21 inches long was caught at West Fal- 
mouth July 16, 1897, on a hook baited with fresh clam. In 
August 1901 an individual of medium size was caught with a 
hook on the Cinders, Fire Island, by an angler. This was the 
only specimen seen during the summer. 

340 Echeneis naucrateoides Zuiew. 
Pilot Sucker 

Echeneis naucrateoides Zuiew, Nova Acta Ac. Sci. Imp. Petropol. IV, 279, 
1789; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 20, 1879; H. M. Smith, 
Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 
Nat. Mus. Ill, 2270, 1898. 

Echeneis holbrooM Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 382, 1860. 

The form of the body is similar to that of the sharksucker; 
its depth forms n of the total length. The length of the head 
is one fifth of the total. The cephalic disk is very long, nearly 



. 






688 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

one fourth of the total, and equal to twice the width of the 
body between the pectorals. The number of laminae is 20 or 21, 
and they are far apart. The radial formula, D. XX or XXI-32 
to 35; A. 33 to 35. 

The color is the same as in the sharksucker. This species 
ranges from Cape Cod to the West Indies. It is common on our 
south Atlantic coast. An individual was recorded by Prof. 
Baird at Woods Hole Mass. in 1871, and a number of specimens 
were taken during the next 10 years. According to Dr Smith, 
however, it has not recently been collected there. 

Genus remora Gill 

Body rather robust, the vertebrae 12+15=27; disk shortish, of 

13 to 18 laminae; pectoral rounded, its rays soft and flexible; 

soft dorsal and anal moderate, of 20 to 30 rays; caudal subtrun- 

cate. Species attaching themselves to large fishes, specially to 

sharks. 

341 Remora remora (Linnaeus) 

Remora 

Eclieneis remora Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 260, 1758; Mitchell, Trans. 

Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 378, 1815; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 309, 

1842; Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 378, 1860; Joed an & Gilbert, 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 417, 1883. 
Remora jacooaea Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 21, 1879. 
iiertwra remora Jordan & Eveemann, Check-List Fish. N. A. 490, 1896; 

H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 1^6, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2271, 1898. 

Body and tail comparatively robust, the latter compressed. 
The length of the body is four times the length of the head, two 
and three fourths times the length of the disk and five and one 
fourth times the width between pectorals. Pectoral fin rounded, 
short, and broad, the rays soft and flexible; ventral fins adnate 
to the abdomen for more than half the length of their inner edge. 
Tip of lower jaw not produced into a flap. Vertebrae 12+15. 
Head broad and depressed; disk longer than the dorsal or anal 
fin; maxillary scarcely reaching front of orbit; caudal lunate; 
vertical fins rather high; pectoral three fifths length of head. D. 
XVIII-23; A. 25. 

Uniform dark brown. Warm seas, north to New York and 
San Francisco; usually found attached to large sharks. 






FISHES OF NEW YORK 689 

In 1815, Mitchill described this species under the name of small 
oceanic sucker. De Kay did not see the fish but obtained his 
information from the writings of Mitchill and Schoeff. He 
states that Schoeff saw this remora taken from the bottoms of 
vessels in the harbor of New York. At Woods Hole Mass., 
according to Dr Smith, the remora is rare. It was reported by 
Prof. Baird in 1871, and the specimen in the collection at that 
place was taken in July. It is usually found attached to large 
sharks. In 1879 Messrs Goode and Bean found in the museum 
of the Essex Institute, at Salem Mass. a specimen which was 
reported to have come from Salem harbor. If it really was 
obtained in that locality, it must have been attached to the 
bottom of some vessel from a southern port. 

342 Remora brachyptera (Lowe) 
Swordfish Sucker 

Echeneis brachyptera Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 89, 1839, Madeira, 

(jUnthee, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 378, 1860; Joed an & Gilbert, 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 417, 1883. 
Echeneis quatiiordecimlaminatus Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 155, 1839; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fish. 309, 1842 (extralimital) ; Storer, Hist. 

Fish. Mass. 212, pi. XXXII, fig. 4, 1867. 
Remoropsis brachypterus Gile, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 60, 1864. 
Remoropsis brachyptera Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 21, 1879. 
Remora brachyptera Jordan & Evermann, Check-List Fish. N. A. 490, 1896 ; 

H. M. Smith, Bull. IT. S. F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2272, 1898; IV, pi. CCCXXX, fig. 797 

797a, 1900. 

The length of the head is contained nearly four times in the 
length of the body, which is six and one half times the width 
between the pectorals. Body robust, the greatest depth nearly 
twice the length of the short pectoral fins; disk shorter than base 
of dorsal, rather broad; upper jaw angular; caudal nearly trun- 
cate. D. XVI-30; A. 26. 

Light brown, darker below; fins paler. 

The swordfish sucker is an inhabitant of warm seas, ranging 
northward to Cape Cod, and to Japan. . It is a small species and 
has usually been found attached to the swordfish. Dr Storer, in 
his Report on the FisJies of Massachusetts, 1839, recorded a speci- 
men from Holmes Hole, Marthas Vineyard. At Woods Hole 



690 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Mass. this sucker is rare. There is in the U. S. National Museum 
an individual from that locality. Storer again describes the 
species in his History of the Fishes of Massachusetts, 1867, and 
gives a figure of it. De Kay refers to this description on page 
309 of his New York Fauna. He regards this fish as one of the 
extralimital species. Goode and Bean in 1879 recorded it as a 
parasite of the swordfish, which not infrequently accompanies 
that species into Massachusetts bay. They had also seen speci- 
mens from Newfoundland.. 

Genus rhombochirus Gill 
This genus agrees with Remora in every respect excepting the 
structure of the pectoral fins. These are short and broad, rhom- 
bic in outline, the rays all flat, broad and stiff, being partially 
ossified, though showing the usual articulations; upper rays of 
pectoral broader than the others. One species known. 

343 Rhombochirus osteochir (Cuvier) 
Spearfish Sucker 

Echeneis osteochir Cuvier, R§gne Anim. ed. 2, II, 348, 1829; Gunther, Cat. 
Fish. Brit. Mus. II, 381, 1860; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. 
Mus. 418, 1883. 

Rhombochirus osteochir Jordan & Evermann, Check-List Fish. N. A. 490, 
1896; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 106, 1898; Jordan & Ever- 
mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2273, 1898; IV, pi. CCCXXX, fig. 
798, 1900. 

The length of the body is four and two thirds times the length 
of the head, two and one fourth times the length of the disk and 
five times the width between the pectorals; mouth very small, 
maxillary not reaching to the line of orbit; disk very large, 
broader and rougher than in Echeneis remora, extending 
forward beyond tip of snout; caudal fin emarginate, with 
rounded angles. D. XVIII-21 to 23; A. 20; P. 20. 

Light brown; under side of head, ventral line, part of ventrals 
and a spot on pectorals pale. 

This small species inhabits the West Indies and ranges north- 
ward occasionally to Cape Cod. It is parasitic on the species 
of spearfish, and is rather rare. It was recorded at Woods Hole 
Mass. by Prof. Baird in 1871. According to Dr Smith, a speci- 
men was taken Aug. 6, 1886, in a fish trap at Quissett harbor, 
near Woods Hole. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 691 

Suborder anacanthini 

Jugular Fishes 
Family merluciidae 

Whitings 
Genus merlucius Eafinesque 
Body elongate, covered with small, deciduous scales; head 
slender, conic, the snout long, depressed; a well-defined, oblong, 
triangular excavation at the forehead, bounded by the ridges 
on the separated frontal bones, these ridges converging back- 
ward into the low occipital crest; eye rather large; edge of 
preopercle free; preopercle with a channel behind its crest, 
crossed by short radiating ridges; mouth large, oblique; maxil- 
lary extending to opposite the eye; lower jaw longer; no barbels; 
jaws with slender teeth, of various sizes, in about two series, 
those of the inner row longer and movable; vomer with similar 
teeth; palatines toothless; branchiostegals seven; gill rakers 
long; gill membranes not united; dorsal fins two, well separated, 
the first short, the second long, with a deep emargination; anal 
emarginate, similar to second dorsal; ventral fins well developed, 
with about seven rays; vertebrae peculiarly modified, the neural 
spines well developed and wedged into one another; frontal bone 
double and the skull otherwise peculiar in several respects. 
Species several, very similar in appearance, ill-favored fishes of 
soft flesh and fragile fins, inhabiting water of some depth. 
Large, voracious, little valued as food. 

344 Merlucius bilinearis (Mitchill) 
Whiting; Silver Hake 

Stomodon Bilinearis Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 7, 1814. 

Gadus merlucius Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 371, 1815. 

Gadus alhidus Mitchill, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I, 409, 1817. 

Merlucius alUdus De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes 280, pi. 46, fig. 148, 1842; 
Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 185, pi. XXVIII, fig. 2, 1867. 

Merlucius bilinearis Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 9, 1879; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 809, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. 
Fish. N. Y. 249, pi. IV, fig. 5, 1890; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 386, 
fig. 330, 1896; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 107, 1898; Jordan & 
Eveemann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2530, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. 
Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 109, 1900. 



692 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The length of the body is six and one half times the depth of 
the body and three and three fourths times the length of the 
head. Top of head with W-shaped ridges very conspicuous; eye 
shorter than snout and less than interorbital in width; maxillary 
reaching posterior border of pupil; teeth not very large, smaller 
than in M. siniridus; scales larger than in other species; 
pectorals and ventrals long, the latter reaching three fourths 
distance to vent, their length being three fifths that of the head. 
D. 13-41; A. 40; Lat 1. 100-110. 

Grayish, darker above, dull silvery below; axil and edge of 
pectoral somewhat blackish; inside of opercle dusky silvery; 
inside of mouth dusky bluish; peritoneum nearly black. 

The whiting is known by the additional names of hake and 
silver hake. Mitchill describes it as the hake, G a d*u s m e r - 
1 u c i u s . He states that it is caught with the other cod. 
De Kay called it the American hake. He styles it a rare fish in 
the waters of New York, and, when caught, always associated 
with the common cod. The specimen described by De Kay was 
taken in November off Sandy Hook. In his New York Fauna, he 
mentions Mitchill's description of a specimen which measured 
21 inches in length. 

The whiting ranges from Labrador to Virginia. Young ex- 
amples have been found even farther south in very deep water. 
This fish occurs in Gravesend bay in spring and fall. In Great 
South bay no individuals were seen by the writer during the sum- 
mer, but an individual was obtained late in the fall by Capt. 
Thurber. Oct. 28, 1898, several examples were received from the 
Atlantic, off Southampton. 

According to Dr Smith, the species is abundant every fall at 
Woods Hole Mass. and some years it is common in summer. The 
fish swims close to the shore, and is caught in considerable num- 
bers at Buzzard's bay at night with spears. Large individuals 
weighing 5 or 6 pounds are caught in traps. The young measur- 
ing 2\ to 3 inches long ? are seined in the fall about Woods Hole. 
The names in use for the fish in that locality are silver hake, 
whiting, and frostfish. In Massachusetts bay the whiting is a 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 693 

frequent visitor to the shores and is probably a resident of the 
middle depths. The young are frequently trawled in deep water. 

Family gadidae 
Codfishes 
Genus pollachils Xilsson 
Body rather elongate, covered with minute scales; mouth 
moderate or large, the lower jaw projecting; barbel very small 
or obsolete; villiform teeth on vomer, none on palatines; teeth in 
jaws equal or the outer slightly enlarged; gill membranes more 
or less united; subopercle and postclavicle not enlarged and not 
ivory like; dorsal fins three; anal two; caudal lunate; vent under 
first dorsal. Large fishes of the northern seas. 

345 Pollachius virens (Linnaeus) 

Pollack 

Gadus virens Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. eel. X. I, 253, 1758, 

Gadus purpureas Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 370, 1815. 

Jlerhingus purpureus Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 130, 1839; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna, Fishes, 286, pi. 45, fig. 117, 1S12; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 180, 

pi. XXVII, fig. 3, 1867. 
Merlangus carlwnarius Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 129, 1839; De Kay. X. Y. 

Fauna. Fishes. 287. pi. 45, fig. 144, 1842. 
■ Merlangus leptoceplialus De Kay, op. cit. 288. pi. 45, fig. 146, Long Island. 
Pollachius carbonarius Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 8. 1879. 
PolkicMus virens Jordan & Eyermann, Check-List Fish. X. A. 493, 1896; 

Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Xat. Hist. IX. 371, 1897; H. M. Smith. Bull. 

U. S. F. C. 1897, 107, 1898; Jordan & Eyermann. Bull. 47, U. S. Xat. 

Mus. Ill, 2534, 1898; IY, pi. CCCLIX. fig. 886, 1900. 

The length of the body is four and one fourth times the depth 
of the body and four times the length of the head. Body rather 
elongate, compressed; snout sharp and conic; mouth rather 
small, oblique; maxillary reaching beyond front of orbit; lower 
jaw slightly the longer; teeth in upper jaw nearly equal, the 
outer series not specially enlarged; barbel rudimentary or obso- 
lete; gill membranes considerably united, free from isthmus; 
vent under first dorsal; caudal fin lunate; pectorals short, 
scarcely reaching anal; ventrals short. D. 13-22-20; A. 25-20; 
Lat. 1. about 150; vertebrae 54. 

Greenish brown above; sides and below somewhat silvery; 
lateral line pale; fins mostly pale; sometimes a black spot on the 
axil. 



694 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The pollack is a native of the north Atlantic. It is common 
northward on both coasts, and extends south to France and New 
Jersey. Mitchill described the fish under the name of the New 
York pollack. De Kay mentions it under several names: the 
New York pollack, the coalfish, and the s green pollack. De Kay 
says the fish is taken with the common cod, but is by no means 
common on the coast of New York. He saw a specimen weigh- 
ing 17 pounds, and measuring 38 inches in length. In another 
description he states that the coalfish is often taken off the 
harbor of New York in company with the cod, and is known as 
pollack and black pollack. The third form under which the fish 
was known to De Kay was described by him from a specimen 
captured by hook out of a large school in Long Island sound. 
The pollack enters Gravesend bay in the fall. In captivity it is 
a ravenous feeder. It requires cold water and will not endure 
high temperatures. 

De Kay states that the fish flipped in the same manner as the 
menhaden, and was at first supposed to be of that species. The 
school seemed to be very timid; for, on a very slight noise in 
the boat, they all disappeared. 

Dr Smith states that adult pollack appear in Vineyard sound, 
Great harbor, Woods Hole Mass. in May, following the run of cod. 
They depart when the temperature of the water reaches 60° or 
65°. In April there is a run of pollack, measuring from 1 to 1-| 
inches long. By June, when these fish leave, they have reached 
a length of 4 inches. In fall there is a small run of pollack 7 
or 8 inches long. The average weight of adults in that locality 
is about 10 pounds, the largest one seined having weighed 14 
pounds. In Massachusetts bay this is an extremely abundant 
species, and constitutes an important food resource. 

Genus microgadus Gill 
Very small codfishes allied to G a d u s , but with the vent 
placed before the second dorsal and with a different structure 
of the cranium. The following is Prof. Gill's account of the 
skull of Microgadus proximus, the italicised part indi- 
cating the difference from G a d u s. 



FISHES OP NEW YORK 695 

The cranium is proportionally broader toward the front and 
less flattened, while the brain case is flattened \below, decidedly 
swollen on each side of a depressed sphenoidal groove, and has 
an ovate cardiform shape; the paraoccipitdl or epiotic is not 
produced into an angle behind, but is obtusely rounded, and its 
posterior or outwardly descending ridge blunt; the opisthotic is 
well developed, oblong, and with its reentering angle high up, 
and, on a line with it, the surface is divided into two parts — a 
narrow and flattened one, and a lower, expanded one, much 
swollen; the alisphenoid or prootic is oolong, acutely emarginate 
in front, swollen from the region of the high anterior sinus, 
and above a little produced forward; the great frontal is a little 
longer than broad, with supraoccipital crest continued foricard 
on the bone, and near the front expanded upward, and with the 
expanded portion behind dividing into narrow lateral wings; the 
lateral testiform ridges of the frontal are continued forward 
and curved outward toward the antero-lateral angles; the ante- 
rior frontals are mostly covered in front by the great frontal, 
and are much developed in the direction of the antero-lateral 
angles, the inferior expanded axillary portion being very nar- 
row; the nasal has a rounded ridge in front, continued well 
below, and its posterior crest is laminar and trenchant. 

Species American; valued as food. 

346 Microgadus tomcod (Walbaum) 

Tomcod; FrostfisJi 

Gadus tomcod Walbaum, Art. Gen. Pise. Ill, 133, 1792. 

Gadus tomcodus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 368, 1815; 

Storer, Eep. Fish. Mass. 126, 1839; GtJnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 

IV, 331, 1862. 
Gadus pruinosus Mitchell, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 4, 1814. 
Morrhua pruinosa De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fish. 278, pi. 44, fig. 142, 1842: 

Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 179, pi. XXVII, fig. 5, 1867. 
Microgadus tomcodus Go-ode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 8, 1879; Bean, 

19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 248, pi. Ill, fig. 3, 1890. 
Microgadus tomcod Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 806, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 371, 1897; Mearns, Bull. Am. 

Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 322, 1898; Eugene Smith, Proe. Linn. Soc. 

X. Y. 1897, 40, 1898; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 107, 1898; 

Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2540, 1898; IV, pi. 

CCCLX, fig. 890, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. X. Y. State Mus. 109, 

1900. 



696 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Body subfusiform, moderately robust, its depth slightly less 
than length of head or about one fifth of the total length; depth 
of caudal peduncle contained three and one half times in greatest 
depth of body; snout rounded, the distance from eye to tip of 
snout twice diameter of eye, the latter being contained five and 
one half times in length of head; length of maxillary contained 
two and three fifths times in length of head; mandible much 
shorter; mandibulary barbel well developed; first dorsal ray 
inserted over middle of lengtli of pectorals, the distance of this 
ray from tip of snout being about equal to its distance from 
end of second dorsal base, the length of the latter being equal 
to the distance from first dorsal ray to first ray of second dorsal; 
length of third dorsal base equal to that of second anal, these 
fins being opposite each other; first anal opposite second dorsal, 
its base slightly longer; length of pectoral equals base of third 
dorsal; ventral filamentous, longer than pectoral. 1st D. 13-15; 
2d D. 15-19; 3d D. 16-18; 1st A. 18-20; 2d A. 16-20. 

Color olive brown with reticulations and blotches of darker; 
sides and back profusely covered with dark punctulations; under 
parts lighter; dorsal, caudal and anal fins with dark blotches; 
pectorals and ventrals dusky. 

This fish is very generally known in New York waters under 
the name of frostfish. It ranges from Nova Scotia to -Virginia, 
and is excessively common in shallow bays in cold weather. 
The name frostfish is derived from the fact that it appears after 
frosts have set in. The species ascends fresh-water rivers far 
above the limits of tide, and may be transferred suddenly from 
salt water to fresh without inconvenience. It spawns in the 
early part of winter, and is present at this time in such large 
numbers as to make its capture with dip nets comparatively 
easy. The frostfish is the commonest member of the cod family 
in New York waters. Its size is small, but, from the fact that it 
occurs in such abundance, it is an important market species. It 
is subject to great variations in color; Dr Mitchill enumerates 
among its varieties 'five forms: the brown, yellow, yellowish 
white, mixed tomcod and the frostfish. De Kay has published 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 697 

the statement that he has known the frostfish to be taken out of 
The water along the shores of Long Island in great numbers 
with a common garden hoe. He was informed that the species 
occasionally ascends the Hudson as far as Albany. In Great 
South bay Ave found large numbers of tomcod, which were cov- 
ered with a lernaean parasite. The same thing has been 
observed frequently at Woods Hole Mass. and other northern 
localities. We found the species in nearly all parts of the bay 
late in September in moderate numbers, and more plentiful at 
Fire Island October 1. 

July 29, 1898, a few young tomcod were seined in Peconic bay. 
near Southampton. In Gravesend bay the fish is a fall and 
winter visitor. It does not live in captivity in summer. Dr 
Mearns has found this fish in the Hudson river, where it is usu- 
ally called frostfish by the fishermen, who catch many of them 
in their fyke and ice nets during fall and winter. It bites read- 
ily and is esteemed as an article of food. Dr Mearns has found 
it during the entire year, and in August has found young tomcod 
fully an inch or two in length. He states that this fish is very 
often found in eel grass along shore, half dead, floating on the 
surface, but able to swim a little. Mr *Eugene Smith says that 
the tomcod runs up stream into nearly pure fresh water in the 
vicinity of New York city. At Woods Hole Mass. it is abundant 
in winter, coming about October 1 and remaining till May 1. It 
spawns in December. In Massachusetts it is a resident species, 
entering brackish waters; it is common about the wharves and 
bridges in summer and is taken with nets and hooks in winter, 
in company with the smelt. 

The tomcod reaches the length of about 10 inches. It is an 

^important food fish and its eggs have been hatched artificially 

by the Xew York Forest, Fish and Game Commission in large 

numbers. 

Genus g^dus (Artedi) Linnaeus 

Body moderately elongate, compressed and tapering behind; 
scales very small; lateral line present, pale; head narrowed an- 
teriorly; mouth moderate, the maxillary reaching past front of 



p98 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

eye; chin with a barbel; teeth in jaws cardiform, subequal; 
vomer with teeth; none on the palatines; cranium without the 
expanded crests seen in Melanogrammus; no part of the 
skeleton expanded and ivorylike; dorsal fins three, well sepa- 
rated; anal fins two; ventral fins well developed, of about 7 rajs. 
Species of the northern seas; highly valued as food. 

347 Gadus morrhua Linnaeus 

Cod 

Gadus callarias Linnaeus, Syst.Nat. ed. X, I, 252, 1758, young,; Mitchill, 

Rep. Fish. N. Y. 5, 1814; Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 367, 1815; 

Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16. TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 804, 1883; H. M. Smith, 

Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 107, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. Ill, 2541, 1898; IV, pi. OGOLXI, fig. 891, 1900; Sherwood & 

Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 30, 1901. 
Gadus arenosus and rupestris Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 368, 

1815. 
Morrhua amerioana Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 120, 1839; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna, Fishes, 274, pi. 44, fig. 140, 1842. 
Morrhua americanus Storer. Hist. Fish. Mass. 165, pi. XXVII, fig. 4, 1867. 
Gadus morhua Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 252, 1758; Mitchill, Rep. 

Fish. N. Y. 6, 1814. 
Gadus morrhua Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 328, 1862; Goode & 

Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 8, 1879; Oceanic Ichth. 354, 1896; Bean, 

Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 372, 1897. 

Body elongate, robust, its greatest depth one fourth of length 
to end of vertebral column, tapering to caudal, the depth of the 
peduncle being less than one fourth of greatest depth of body; 
the length of the head slightly more than depth of body, one 
fourth of total length; eye one fifth length of head; maxillary 
longer than snout, reaching vertical through eye, and contained 
two and one half times in length of head; teeth moderately 
strong, in bands; the first dorsal originates behind vertical from 
base of pectorals, its base equal to length of eye and snout; 
second dorsal base much longer than first, four fifths length of 
head; third dbrsal and second anal fins similar, their bases of 
equal length; first anal base almost equal to second dorsal base; 
caudal emarginate; pectorals and ventrals comparatively small. 
D. 14, 21, 19; A. 20, 18. 

Color olive or yellowish brown; numerous dark brown spots 
on body; fins dark. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 699 

The cod is an inhabitant of the north Atlantic and the north 
Pacific. It is a very important food fish and grows to a large 
size. Individuals weighing about 100 pounds have occasionally 
been taken. Mitchill has described this fish under several 
names: ttie torsh, or common cod, or rock cod of New York. 
De Kay calls it the American cod. In November 1897 the cod 
was abundant in Gravesend bay. It thrives in captivity during 
the winter and spring, but can not be kept during the warm 
months without cooling the water. In Vineyard sound, accord- 
ing to Dr Smith, the cod appear about April 1 to about April 15, 
when the dogfish drive them away. After the middle of October 
the cod come again but in less numbers than in the spring, 
remaining till the first wintry weather. The fish spawns during 
the late fall and winter. The young are first observed at Woods 
Hole about the first of April, when fish about 1 inch long are 
seined. Most of the young leave by June 15, having attained a 
length of from 3 to 4 inches. No cod are seen between small 
fish of that size and fish weighing from 1J to 2 pounds, which are 
caught in traps in the spring. Off the coast of New England 
cod are very abundant in the deep waters, and they come up to 
the shoals and near the shores to spawn, from November about 
Cape Ann till February on Georges banks. 

Genus melanogrammus Gill 
This genus is distinguished from G a d u s by its smaller 
mouth, the produced first dorsal fin, black lateral line, and spe- 
cially by the great enlargement of the hypocoracoid, which is 
dense and ivorylike. The lateral line is always black, and the 
supraoccipital and other crests on the head are largely devel- 
oped. Food fishes of large size. 

348 Melanogrammus aeglefinus (Linnaeus) 
Haddock 

Gadns aeglefinus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 251, 1758; Mitchill, Trans. 

Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 370, 1815. 
Morrhua aeglefinus Stoeer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 124, 1839; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna. Fishes, 279, pi. 43, fig. 138, 1842; Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 177, 

pi. XXVIII, fig. 1, 1867. 



"Oil NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Melanogramnius aeglefinus Gill, Proe. Ac. Nat. Sci. Puila. 280, 1862; Goode 
& Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 8. 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, 
U. S. Nat. Mus. 803, 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 354, 1896; 
Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 372, 1897; Jordan & Bvermann, 
Bull. 47. U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2542, 1898; IV, pi. CCCLXI, fig. 892, 892a, 
1900. 

The length of the body is four and one half times its depth 
and three and three fourths times the length of the head. Snout 
long and narrow, overlapping the small mouth; maxillary barely 
reaching front of orbit; teeth subequal, large, in a cardiform 
band in upper jaw; in a single series on lower jaw and on 
vomer; occiput carinated; a ridge extending backward from each 
orbit; eye very large, two thirds length of snout, four in head. 
Anterior rays of first dorsal elevated, three fourths length of 
head, the fin pointed, higher than second and third dorsals; 
caudal lunate; vent below front of second dorsal. The skull in 
this species much more depressed than in G a d u s c a 1 1 a r i a s, 
broader, and thinner in texture; occipital crest exceedingly high, 
much higher than in G a d u s , the winglike projections at its 
base anteriorly spreading widely, raised above the surface of the 
skull. D. 15-24-21; A. 23-21. 

Dark gray above, whitish below; lateral line black; a large 
dark blotch above the pectorals; dorsals and caudal dusky. 

Mitchill described the haddock under the name G a d u s 
aeglefinus. De Kay also describes the fish and gives a 
figure of it in his Neio York Fauna. He states that it is nearly as 
common in the New York markets as the cod, and during the 
summer it is even more abundant than'the cod. 

The haddock inhabits the north Atlantic on both coasts, rang- 
ing south to France and to North Carolina. Off Cape Hatteras 
it occurs in the deeper water. It is an important food fish, 
and reaches a moderately large size, attaining to a length of 
nearly 3 feet. 

At Woods Hole Mass. it was reported by Prof. Baird in 1871. 
Dr Smith, however, says it is not found in Vineyard sound or 
Buzzards bay, but is common 6 or 7 miles off Gay head, and the 
ocean side of Marthas Vineyard. In Massachusetts bay it is 
a common resident species. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 701 

Genus lota (Cuvier) Oken 
Body long and low, compressed behind; head small, de- 
pressed, rather broad; anterior nostrils each with a small 
barbel; chin with a long barbel; snout and lower parts of head 
naked; mouth moderate, the lower jaw included; each jaw with 
broad bands of equal, villiform teeth; vomer with a broad, cres- 
cent-shaped band of similar teeth; ho teeth on palatines; gill 
openings wide, the membrane somewhat connected, free from 
the isthmus; scales very small, embedded; vertical fins scaly; 
dorsal fins two, the first short, the second long, similar to the 
anal; caudal rounded, its outer rays procurrent; ventrals of 
several rays. One or two species, living in fresh waters of 
northern regions. 

319 Lota maculosa (Le Sueur) 
Burbot; Lawyer:' Ling 

Gad us maculosus Le Sueue. Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Pliila. I. 83, 1817, Lake 
Erie. 

Gadus lacustris Mitchill, Ain. Month. Mag. II. 241, February, 1818. 

Lota brosmiana Stoker. Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. IV, pi. 5, fig. 1, 1839. 

Lota inornata De Kay. X. Y. Fauna. Fishes. 2S3. pi. 45. fig. 145. 1842. Hud- 
son Blrer. 

Gadus compressus Le Sueue, Jour. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. I. S4. 1817. 

Lota compressa De Kay, op. cit. 285, pi. 78. figs. 244. 245, 1842. 

Molva maculosa Le Sueue. Mem. Mus. Paris, Y, pi. 16, 1819. 

Lota maculosa De Kay. op. cit. 284, pi. 52, fig. 168, 1842; Jobdax & Gilbert, 
Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 804. 1883; Meek. Ann. N. Y. Ac. Sci. IY. 
315, 1888, Cayuga Lake; Beax. Fishes Penna. 13S. pi. 35. fig. 75. 1S93; 
Evebmaxx & Kendall. Kept. U. S. F. C. 1894. 603. 1896; Beax. Bulk 
Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX. 372. 1897. Canandaigua Lake: Joedax «fc 
Eveemaxx, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. III. 2550, 1898; IY. pi. CCCLXIY. 
fig. 897, 1900. 

The body of the burbot is elongate, eel-shaped; its greatest 
hight equaling the length of head without snout, and about 
one sixth of total without caudal; it is roundish, somewhat com- 
pressed posteriorly. The eye is small, less than one half length 
of snout and about one eighth length of head. The upper jaw 
reaches slightly beyond the hind margin of the eye, its length 
three sevenths length of head. The lower jaw is included 
within the upper, and has a stout barbel which is nearly one 
fifth as long as the head; the ventral is longer than the pectoral, 



iOL' NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

but does not reach half way to vent; the pectoral is half as 
long- as the head; the distance of the first dorsal from the head 
equals the bight of the body; the longest ray of the first dorsal 
equals half the length of its base; the dorsal fins are separated 
by a narrow interspace; the second dorsal is higher than the 
first, and the length of its base is nearly one half total without 
caudal; the anal begins under the ninth ray of the second dor- 
sal and extends as far back as that fin; caudal rounded; the 
scales are deeply embedded in the skin, not imbricated. D. 13, 
68 to 76; A. 67; V. 7; vertebrae, 22 to 23+38 to 39; pyloric 
■caeca, 30 to 138. 

The color is dark olivaceous, reticulated with blackish; the 
lower parts yellowish or dusky; the dorsal, anal and caudal 
tins with a narrow dark edge. 

The American burbot was first described by Le Sueur from 
Lake Erie in 1817, and also from Northampton Conn, under a 
different name. This common fish has received a great many 
names, including the following: marthy, methy, losh, eelpout, 
dogfish, chub eel, ling, lawyer, lake cusk, fresh-water cod, aleby 
trout and mother-of-eels. 

The southern limit of this fish appears to be Kansas City Mo.; 
according to Prof. Cope, it has been once taken in the Susque- 
hanna near Muncy, Lycoming co.; it is extremely common in 
the Great lakes; westward it ranges to Montana and north- 
ward throughout British Columbia and Alaska to the Arctic 
ocean; it is most abundant in the Great lakes and lakes of New 
York, New England and New Brunswick; it abounds also in 
rivers and lakes of Alaska. 

The burbot was sent from Canahdaigua lake by Mr James 
Annin jr in November 1897. It is hard to transport and still 
harder to keep alive in captivity, being specially liable to at- 
tacks of fungus. 

Dr W. M. Beauchamp, writing from Baldwinsville N. Y. Ap. 
9, 1879, said that the burbot is found in Seneca river and is 
abundant in Oneida lake; that it is caught with a hook and is 
seldom eaten, though there is a way of making it palatable. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 703 

According to Dr Meek it is found rarely in Cayuga lake. 

The average length of this species in the Great lakes region 
is about 2 feet; in Alaska, according to Dr D'all, it reaches a 
length of 5 feet and occasionally weighs 60 pounds; the size 
of the fish depends chiefly on the amount of food accessible 
to it. 

It is stated that the burbot is usually found in deep water 
on mud bottom, except during the spawning season, in March, 
when it frequents hard or rocky bottoms. The eggs are small 
and numerous, and are believed to be deposited in deep water; 
Dr Dall estimates that some individuals contain several millions 
of eggs; in Alaska the eggs are of a creamy yellow color, and 
the fish are found full of spawn from November to January. 
From the observations mentioned, it will be seen that the 
spawning period extends at least from November to March; 
according to Dr Dall the males are usually much smaller than 
the females and have a smaller liver; in some males he found 
two or three gall bladders opening into a common duct, but he 
never observed this phenomenon in the female; the eggs are 
laid separate or loose on the bottom of the river. According to 
Baron Cederstrom, a medium-sized female of the European bur- 
bot, which is a near relative of the American species, contained 
about 160,000 eggs; in the European burbot, some eggs are 
clear, some yellowish and others almost colorless; the period 
of incubation occupies from three to four weeks; the eyes 
appear in 15 or 16 days; the embryos swim by quick movements 
of the pectorals, usually toward the surface of the water, 
whence they fall passively to the bottom. 

The burbot is extremely voracious, and feeds on bottom fishes 
and crustaceans. It destroys the pike and such spiny fishes as 
the yellow perch and sunfish. In Alaskan rivers it feeds on 
whitefish, lampreys and other species; large stones have some- 
times been found in its stomach. Mr Graham took a stone 
weighing a pound from the stomach of a burbot. 

In the Great lakes region the burbot is considered worthless 
for food, occasionally the livers are eaten; in Lake Winnepe- 



704 NE'W YORK STATE MUSEUM 

saukee, when caught through the ice in winter, the fish is 
highly esteemed; in the fur countries the roe is an article of 
food; on the Yukon river the liver is eaten and the flesh is 
liked by some persons; in Montana the burbot is in great de- 
mand for food; the quality of the flesh appears to depend chiefly 
on the nature of the habitat of the fish. 

This is the only member of the cod family permanently resi- 
dent in the fresh waters of America. 

Genus urophycis Gill 
Body rather elongate; head subconic; mouth rather large, 
the maxillary reaching to below eye; lower jaw included; 
chin with a small barbel; jaws and vomer with broad bands of 
subequal, pointed teeth; palatines toothless; dorsal fins two, 
the first sometimes produced at tip; second dorsal long, similar 
to the anal; ventrals wide apart, filamentous, each of three slen- 
der rays closely joined, appearing like one bifid filament; gill 
membranes somewhat connected, narrowly joined to the 

isthmus. 

Subgenus urophycis 

. 350 Urophycis regius (Walbaum) 

Spotted Codling; Spotted Hake 

Blennius regius Walbaum, Art. Gen. Pise. Ill, 186, 1792. 

(ladus punctatus Mitchell, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 372, pi. I, fig. 5, 

1815, New York; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 292, pi. 46, fig. 149, 

1842. 
Phycis regalis Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 354, 1862. 
Phycis regius Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 8, 18X9; Oceanic Ichth. 

357, 1896; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 372, 1897; H. M. Smith, 

Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 107, 1898. 
Urophycis regius Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 240, 1863; Jordan & Ever- 

mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat^ Mus. Ill, 2553, 1898; IV, pi. CCCLXIV, fig. 

898, 1900. 

The depth of the body is contained four and one half times 
in its length, which is four and one fourth times the length of 
the head. Body rather stout; head broad; mouth large, the 
maxillary reaching posterior margin of eye; eye less than snout 
or interorbital width; first dorsal low, its hight about equal 
to half length of head; ventral fin longer than head, about 
three and one half in the length of the body; caudal fin subtrun- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 705 

cate. D. 8-43; A. about 45; scales rather large, about 90 in 
the lateral line. 

Pale brownish, tinged with yellowish, the lateral line dark 
brown, interrupted by white spots; inside of mouth white; first 
dorsal largely black, this color surrounded by white; second dor- 
sal olivaceous, with irregular, round, dark spots; caudal, anal 
and pectorals dusky; ventrals and lower edge of pectorals 
white; two vertical series of round dark spots on the sides of 
the head. 

Mitchill described and figured the spotted codling under the 
name of Gadus p u n c t a t u s . De Kay called it the spot- 
ted codling, Phycis punctatus, and he gives a good fig- 
ure of it. His example was 10 inches long. He says it is an 
exceedingly rare but distinct species, and that it occurs from 
the coast of New York to the Gulf of St Lawrence. As a mat- 
ter of fact, the species extends even farther north. The codling- 
ranges southward to Cape Fear. In the northern part of its 
habitat it is found in shallow water, but at the southern limit 
it lives in considerable depths, having been taken from 167 
fathoms. The fish is said to exhibit electrical powers in life. 

The spotted codling appears in Gravesend bay in small num- 
bers in the fall. It lives in water below G0° F.. and is easily 
kept in captivity by refrigerating the water in summer. Its 
habit of lying on the side, in imitation of the tautog and other 
labroids is often observed. Prof. Alexander Agassiz discovered 
electric powers in this fish. 

At Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, it is taken in 
the seine only late in the fall. It varies in length from 7 to 12 
inches. The species has been observed at Halifax X. S. 

Subgenus emphycus Jordan & Evermann 
This subgenus differs from Urophycis in having the first 
dorsal fin elevated, with one or more of its rays filamentous. 

351 Urophycis tenuis (Mitchill) 

Hake; White Hake 

Gail us tenuis Mitchill. Rep. Fish. N. Y. 5, 1814; Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. 
N. Y. I. 372. 1815, New York. 



706 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Phycis tenuis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 293, 1842; Goode & Bean, Bull. 
Essex Inst. XI, 8, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
799, 1883; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 248, pi. Ill, fig. 4, 1890; 
Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 359, fig. 312, 1896; Bean, Bull. Am. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 372, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. G. 1897, 107, 
1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2555, 1898; 
IV, pi. CCCLXV, fig. 901, 1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 
109, 1900. 

The length of the body is five and one half times the depth of 
the body and four and one fourth times the length of the head. 
Snout longer than eye, narrower and more pointed than in P. 
chuss. Eye large, usually wider than interorbital space; 
maxillary reaching beyond pupil; filamentous dorsal ray about 
two thirds length of head; ventral fins about reaching vent; 
scales very small. D. 9-57; A. 48; Lat. 1. 138. 

Brownish, lighter and yellowish below; fins very dark. Dis- 
tinguished from U. chuss chiefly by the smaller scales. 

De Kay calls the hake the American codling, adopting Mitch- 
ilPs common name for the species. He says it appears to feed 
chiefly on smaller Crustacea; that it is very abundant at some 
seasons, but most abundant in the early part of autumn; and 
varies in weight from 3 pounds to 30 pounds. He states that 
it is called indiscriminately hake and codling by New York 
fishermen. Small individuals were seined in Mecox bay Aug. 2, 
1898, and a very young example was received from Southampton 
Sep. 11. This was caught in the Atlantic. In Great South bay 
small examples were found sparingly at Blue Point cove and 
Fire Island late in September. 

The hake, according to Dr Smith, is known also as white hake 
and squirrel hake in the vicinity of Woods Hole Mass. Fish 
weighing 1 to 1-J pounds are abundant there in November, when 
a great many of them enter Eel pond. Young fish 1 inch long 
and upward associate with pollack in spring and are also found 
throughout the summer in considerable numbers. They are also 
obtained in summer at the surface, under gulf weed and eel 
grass. 

As a rule the common hake will not live in water of a tempera- 
ture above 60°F, but one individual survived the summer tern- 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



""■ 



perature in 1897, and became plump and sleek after the arrival 
of cold weather. In summer it was much emaciated, and suffered 
greatly from fungus attacks. 

It is abundant on our shores from Labrador to Virginia, and 
its young are among the commonest of the surface fishes in our 
bays and sounds, during the summer months. The hake reaches 
a weight of 40 pounds, but in the markets the average weight is 
only about 10 pounds. The species frequents muddy bottoms 
and is local in its habits. Its food consists of crabs and other 
crustaceans, besides small fishes. 

The chief fishery for hake takes place in the fall and winter 
months, and they will take the hook at night as well as during 
the day. Trawl lines are the usual implements of capture. 

352 Urophycis chuss (Walbaum) 

Squirrel Hake 

Blennius chuss Walbaum, Art. Gen. Pise. Ill, 186, 1792. 

Gadus longipes Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 5, 1814; Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. 

N. Y. I, 372, pi. I, fig. 4, 1815, New York. 
Pliycis filamentosus Storer, Hist. Pish. Mass. 189, pi. XXIX, fig. 4, 1867. 
Phycis chuss Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 237, 1863; Goode & Bean, Bull. 

Essex Inst. XI, 8, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

799. 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 359, fig. 311, 1896; Bean, 

Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 372, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 

1897, 107, 1898. 
Urophycis chuss Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2555, 

1898; IV, pi. CCCLXV, fig. 902, 1900. 

The depth of the body is one fifth of its length, which is four 
and one half times the length of the head. Body rather slender; 
head depressed; eye large, about equal to interorbital width; 
maxillary reaching posterior margin of pupil; filamentous dor- 
sal ray about two sevenths length of body, when perfect; pector- 
als four fifths length of head; ventral. fin extending beyond the 
vent; scales comparatively large. D. 9-57; A. 50; Lat. 1.110. 

Brownish above, sides lighter and tinged with yellowish; 
thickly punctulate with darker; below pale; inside of mouth 
white; vertical fins somewhat dusky; anal fin margined with 
pale; lateral line not dark. 

According to Jordan and Evermann, this fish is sometimes 
called codling. It inhabits the Atlantic coast from the Gulf of 



70S NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

St Lawrence to Virginia, being very common northward. It is 
sometimes found in waters as deep as 300 fathoms. The squirrel 
hake occurs occasionally in Gravesend bay; it lives usually in 
the deep water off shore. 

At Woods Hole Mass, according to Dr Smith, it is abundant in 
May and June, and in October and November. It fills the traps 
and causes the fishermen much annoyance, as they can not sell 
the fish. Its weight there is from 2 to 5 pounds. In Massachu- 
setts bay it is less abundant than the common hake. It was 
described and figured by Storer in 1867, under the name 
Phycis filamentosus. 

Genus gaidropsarus Bafinesque 
Body rather elongate, covered with minute scales; head not 
compressed, the upper jaw the longer; snout with two conspicu- 
ous barbels, the chin with one; teeth on jaws and vomer in 
bands, palatines toothless; dorsals two, the anterior of a single 
long ray followed by a series of short fringelike rays concealed 
in a groove; second dorsal and anal long, similar to each other; 
caudal rounded or lanceolate; ventral rays 5 to 7. Small fishes 
of the northern seas, descending to deep water. 

353 Gaidropsarus argentatus (Bernhardt) 
Silvery Rookling; Mackerel Midge 

Motella argentata Reinhardt, Dansk. Vidensk. Selskrift. Afh. VII, 128, 

1838, Greenland. 
Concilia argentata Gunther, Cat. Pish. Brit. Mus. IV, 365, 1862. 
Ciliata argentata Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 241, 1863. 
Onos reinhardti Gill, op. cit. 241, 1863; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 797, 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 383, 1896. 
Gaidropsarus argentatus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 

Ill, 2559, 1898; IV, pi. CCCL/XVII, fig. 906, 1900. 

The length of the body is five times the length of the head. 
Head depressed, but rather pointed anteriorly; snout rather 
short; with two barbels; chin with one; teeth in villiform bands, 
those of one series in each jaw longer than the rest; first ray 
of first dorsal short, little longer than snout; vent near middle 
of length; distance from snout to first dorsal three tenths of 
length. D. 56; A. 45; V. 8. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 709 

Uniform reddish brown; cirri and tips of .fins red. Greenland. 

The silvery rockling, or mackerel midge, inhabits the coast of 
Greenland, and extends southward probably as far as Long 
Island, the young having been taken in Vineyard sound. 

354 Gaidropsarus ensis (Bernhardt) 
RocMing 

Motella ensis Reinhardt, Dansk. Vidensk. Selskrift. Afn. VII, 15, 1838, 

Greenland. 
Onos rufus Gill, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 259, 1883, Gulf Stream; Proc. Ac. 

Nat. Sci. Phila. 172, 1884. 
Onos ensis Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 241, 1863; Jordan & Gilbert. 

Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 797, 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 381, 

fig. 327, 1896. 
Gaidropsarus ensis Jordan & Evermaxn, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 

2558, 1898. 

Body unusually deep, its greatest depth at vent equaling two 
ninths of total length without caudal; head small, a little more 
than one sixth of total without the caudal; eye rather large, 
nearly as long as snout, equaling interorbital area, and situated 
in first half of head; posterior margin of orbit nearly equidistant 
from tip of snout and posterior margin of opercle; mouth normal; 
supramaxillary ending under posterior margin of pupil; 
teeth in a narrow band in each jaw, some of those at least in 
outer row of upper jaw slightly enlarged and brownish colored; 
vomerine teeth in two rows forming a short curved band; nasal 
barbel about equal to diameter of eye; chin barbel small and 
not much exceeding one half diameter of eye; foremost ray of 
first dorsal springing from back above opercular margin; second 
dorsal fin low in front, but rising rapidly to seventh or eighth 
ray, behind which it is nearly uniform for a long distance and 
highest at posterior portion; anal fin much lower than second 
dorsal; cauclal slightly emarginate, almost truncate behind, its 
median rays about two thirds as long as the head; pectorals 
nearly three fourths as long as the head, produced toward the 
upper angles, the third ray being longest; ventrals with their 
bases mostly in advance of pectorals, the longest ray filamentous 
&nd nearly equaling pectoral; lateral line obsolescent. D. 59; 
A. 44 to 46; P. 22 to 27; V. 8. 



710 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Inhabits the Atlantic coast of North America from Greenland 
to Cape Hatteras in deep waters. It reaches a depth in the Gulf 
Stream of 1081 fathoms. The fish is described and figured by 
Goode and Bean in Oceanic Ichthyology, p. 381, fig. 327. It is a 
small species, scarcely reaching 1 foot in length, and is without 
importance as food. 

Genus enchelyopus Bl. & Schn. 
Barbels four, one at each nostril, one at tip of snout, and one 
at the chin; head high and compressed anteriorly; teeth in nar- 
row bands, some of them enlarged; otherwise essentially as in 
Gaidropsarus. North Atlantic. 

355 Enchelyopus cimbrius (Linnaeus) 
Four-bearded RockUng 

Gadus cimbrius Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 440, 1766, Atlantic Ocean. 
Motella caudacuta Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 183, pi. XXIX, fig. 1, 1867. 
Onos cimbrius Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mns. 797, 1883. 
Rhinonemus cimbrius Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 384, fig. 328, 1896; 

H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 107, 1898; Sherwood & Edwards, 

Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 31, 1901. 
Enchelyopus cimbrius Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 

2560, 1898; IV, pi. OCOLXVII, fig. 907, 1900. 

Body slender, tapering, its depth nearly one sixth of the total 
without caudal; caudal peduncle narrow, one fourth length of 
head, which is contained five and one half times in total without 
caudal; snout moderate, blunt, rounded, not depressed, a little 
shorter than the eye, which is one fourth as long as the head; 
interorbital space narrow, one sixth length of head; teeth villi- 
form, small and unequal in upper jaw, with about eight enlarged 
in front, long, slender, and equal in lower jaw, a few somewhat 
enlarged in front; maxillary reaching beyond posterior border 
of eye; a barbel at each nostril, one on tip of snout and one on 
chin; lateral line with about 35 enlarged pores along its entire 
length; first (free) ray of dorsal nearly as long as the head; 
ventral one half as long as head; pectoral equal to head without 
snout; caudal narrow, rounded behind, two thirds as long as 
head. 

Color, light rufous or salmon red; first dorsal ray and pos- 
terior end of dorsal and anal abruptly black; lower half of caudal 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 71 L 

black; pectorals and ventrals pale; sides of head somewhat 
silvery; cavity of mouth dark bluish. 

The four-bearded rockling is found in the north Atlantic On 
both coasts, ranging south in deep water to the Gulf Stream. 
It is common in Massachusetts bay. This fish is also described 
in Oceanic Ichthyology, p. 384, fig. 328. At Woods Hole Mass., 
according to Dr Smith, it is a rare visitor, found only in winter. 
It was once taken in a fyke net in Great harbor. In 1900, 
according to Sherwood and Edwards, young rockling were taken 
in the surface to wings at the fish commission wharf, Woods Hole 
Mass. from June 27 to July 6. They formed into schools in the 
eddies, around the wharves and were mixed with young stickle- 
backs. An example measuring 10 inches in length was speared 
in the Eel pond Jan. 5, 1889. A second example was caught in 
Little harbor also in the winter. 

Storer described and figured this fish under the name 

Motella eaudacuta. It is a resident of the deep waters 

of Massachusetts bay, where it occurs in considerable abundance. 

The young swim at the surface and have often been erroneously 

identified with the mackerel midge. The species grows to the 

length of 1 foot. 

Genus brosme (Cuvier) Oken 

Body moderately elongate, covered with very small scales; 

mouth rather large, with teeth in the jaws, vomer and palatines, 

some of those on the vomer and palatines enlarged; chin with a 

barbel; branchiostegals seven; dorsal fin single, continuous, not 

elevated, not notched; anal fin similar, but shorter; caudal fin 

rounded; ventral fin several-rayed. Northern seas. 

356 Brosme brosme (Miiller) 

Gusk 

Gaclus brosme Miiller, Prodr. Zool. Dan. 41, 1776, Denmark. 

Brosmius vulgaris? De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 289, pi 44, fig. 143, 1842. 

Brosmius flavescens GtJnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 369, 1862; Stoker, 

Hist. Fish. Mass. 190, pi. XXIX, fig. 2, 1867. 
Brosmius brosme, Gitnther, op. cit. IV, 369, 1862; Goode & Bean, Bull. 

Essex Inst. XI, 9, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 

802, 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 385, fig. 329, 1896; H. M. 

Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 107, 1898. 
Brosme brosme Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2561, 

1898. 



712 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Body cylindric, posteriorly compressed, its depth contained 
five and one fourth times in total length without caudal; head 
flattened above, its length contained four and one fourth times 
in total; mouth large, oblique, maxillary reaching beyond orbit; 
lower jaw included; several rows of sharp teeth on jaws, vomer 
and palate; barbel about one fifth as long as the head; inter- 
orbital width greater than diameter of eye; origin of dorsal 
above anterior half of pectoral; pectoral round, two fifths as long 
as head; caudal rounded behind. D. 98; A. 71; P. 24; V. 5. 

Color brownish above, the sides yellowish, sometimes mottled 
with brown; young uniform dark slate, or with transverse yellow 
bands; vertical fins bordered with blackish, and with a white 
edge. 

The cusk is described and figured by De Kay, but he did not 
see the fish and copied his information from Storer and others. 
Storer mentions a specimen weighing 20 pounds, but the fish 
grows even larger. It inhabits the North Atlantic, ranging 
southward to New Jersey and Denmark. It is an important food 
fish. According to Dr Smith, it was formerly not uncommon in 
Vineyard sound, and was caught with cod in April and May. It 
has been very rare for more than 20 years, though a few are 
still taken in April. The average weight of individuals in those 
waters is 5 pounds, and the maximum weight from 12 to 13 
pounds. It is known also as ling. In Massachusetts bay and 
vicinity the cusk is a common resident on the inshore fishing 
grounds, where it occurs in great abundance, lurking among the 
stones, but it is soon caught up by the fishermen after the dis- 
covery of a new bank. 

Family macruridae 

Grenadiers 
Genus coelqrhynchus Giorna 

This genus agrees with . Macrurus in all essential 
respects, except that the small mouth is wholly below the long- 
pointed, sturgeonlike snout. Dorsal spine smooth in typical 
species, those with serrate spine having been lately sepa- 
rated under the generic name Coelocephalus. Species 
numerous. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 713 

357 Coelorhynchus carminatus (Go ode) 
Grenadier 

Macrurus carminatus Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 346, 475, 1880. 

Macrurus (Coelorhynchus J carminatus Gttnther, Challenger Report, Deep- 
sea Fishes, XXII, 129, pi. 5, fig. 13, 1887. 

Coelorhynchus carminatus Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 398, fig. 336, 1896; 
Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, IT. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2588, 1898; IV, pi. 
CCCLXIX, fig. 914, 1900. 

The body is stout anteriorly, tapering very rapidly to a rather 
long and slender tail. The depth is one eighth, and the length 
of the head about one fifth of the total length. The eye is large, 
one fifth as long as the head, equaling the interorbital width. 
The snout is as long as the eye. The body is less elongate than 
in Baird's grenadier. The snout is long, sharp, depressed, tri- 
angular. Strong horizontal ridges run from the supraorbital 
margins to the gill openings, parallel with the subocular ridges. 
The nostrils are immediately in front of the orbit; barbel very 
short; teeth small, conic, somewhat recurved, arranged in villi- 
form bands; base of first dorsal fin two ninths as long as the 
distance from its origin to the snout. The first dorsal spine is 
very short, hardly perceptible above the skin. The second spine 
is about one half as long as the head, slender and unarmed; 
when laid back, the tip reaches to or beyond the origin of the 
second dorsal. The spines decrease in length very gradually, 
the sixth being nearly as long as the second. The second dorsal 
begins in the perpendicular from the seventh anal ray. The 
anal fin is much higher than in Baird's grenadier, nearly 
equal to one half of the interorbital width; its origin is under 
the 18th scale of the lateral line; its longest ray is as long as 
the interorbital width. The distance of pectoral from snout 
equals twice its own length, and about equals the longest dorsal 
spine ; the origin of the pectoral is below' the middle of the depth 
of the body, and below the level of the middle of the orbit; the 
tip of the pectoral does not reach the origin of the anal. The 
insertion of the ventrals is behind the pectoral, slightly in 
advance of the first dorsal, its distance from the snout greater 
than twice its length, its long filament not reaching the anal. 
Color silvery gray. Length of the specimen described 10 inches. 



714 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

This grenadier inhabits the West Indies, the Gulf of Mexico, 

and is found in the Gulf Stream in deep water. It is abundant. 

The U. S. Fish Commission steamer, Fish Hawk, has taken it in 

the Gulf Stream off Rhode Island in 115 fathoms. The fish is 

described and figured by Goode and Bean, Oceanic Ichthyology, 

p. 398, fig. 336. 

Order heterosomata 

Flatfishes 

Family pleuronectidae 

Flounders 

Genus hippoglossus Cuvier 

Eyes and color on the right side; form oblong, not strongly 

compressed; mouth wide, oblique; teeth in the upper jaw in two 

series, those below in one, anterior teeth in upper jaw, and 

lateral teeth in lower, strong, no teeth on vomer or palatines, 

lower pharyngeal teeth in two rows; dorsal fin beginning above 

the eye, its middle rays elevated, the posterior rays of dorsal and 

anal bifid; caudal fin lunate; ventral fins both lateral; scales 

very small, cycloid; lateral line with a strong curve in front; gill 

rakers few, short, compressed, wide set. Vertebrae 16+34. 

Largest of the flounders. One species; abundant on both coasts 

of the north Atlantic and of the north Pacific. 

358 Hippoglossus hippoglossus (Linnaeus) 
Halibut 

Pleuronectes hippoglossus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat.ed. X, I, 269, 1758; Mitchill, 

Rep. Fish. N. Y. 10, 1814; Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 386, 1815. 
Eippoglossus vulgaris De Kay, N.Y. Fauna, Fishes, 294, pi. 49, fig. 157, 1842; 

Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IY, 403, 1862; Storer, Hist. Fish. 

Mass. 192, pi. XXX, fig. 1, 1867; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 

7, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 819, 1883; Goode, 

Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 189, pi. 54, 1884. 
Eippoglossus hippoglossus Jordan, Gat. Fish. N. A. 133, 1885; H. M. Smith, 

Bull, U. S. F. C. 1897, 108, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. Ill, 2611, 1898; IV, pi. CCCLXXI, fig. 918, 1900; Sherwood 

& Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 31, 1901. 

Body comparatively elongate, not strongly compressed, deep 
mesially, its depth one third of total length without caudal, 
tapering rapidly in its posterior half; head broad, moderately 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 715 

long, its length contained three and three fourths times in total 
length without caudal; mouth large, the maxillary reaching to 
below middle of orbit; eyes large, separated by a very broad, 
flattish area; lower eye slightly in advance. D. 105; A. 78; P. 
19; V. 6. 

Color, nearly uniform dark brown; blind side white. 

The halibut lives in all northern seas, ranging southward to 
Sandy Hook, or beyond, and occasionally to the Farallones off 
San Francisco. 

The halibut was described by both Mitchill and De Kay under 
its present name. De Kay says that the capture of the halibut 
on the shores of Nantucket at one time afforded employment to 
80 vessels of from 60 to 80 tons each. He says the fish is very 
voracious, swimming near the ground and devouring other flat 
fishes as well as shells and crustaceans. It occurs on both shores 
of the Atlantic as also in the north Pacific, migrating south on 
the approach of spring and returning in June or July. An indi- 
vidual was found some years ago near Colonial Beach, in the 
Potomac river. The fish grows to the length of 8 feet or more, 
and the weight of several hundred pounds. It is a very valuable 
food fish. In the Pacific, according to Jordan and Evermann, it 
extends its range southward to the Farallones, off San Francisco. 

The halibut was formerly not very uncommon in Vineyard 
sound, where it is now very rare. In 1872 and 1873, V. N. 
Edwards caught a number weighing 235 or 240 pounds while 
fishing for cod. Ap. 16, 1900, a halibut weighing 100 pounds was 
caught off Block island by cod fishermen, and was taken to New- 
port. The fish was very abundant at one time in Massachusetts 
bay, but is now found chiefly in depths of 100 to 250 fathoms on 
the slopes of the outer banks. In August 1878 a halibut weigh- 
ing over 200 pounds was caught in Gloucester harbor. 

Genus hippoglossoides Gottsche 
Eyes and color on the right side (except sometimes in H. 
elassodon, a Pacific species) ; body oblong, moderately com- 
pressed; mouth rather large, with one row of sharp teeth on 
each jaw; no teeth on vomer or palatines; gill rakers rather 



"16 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

long and slender; scales ctenoid; lateral line nearly straight, 
simple; dorsal fin low in front, beginning over or before the eye; 
ventrals both lateral; caudal double truncate, produced behind. 
This genus, as here restricted, contains three closely related 
species, two of the north Pacific, one of the north Atlantic. All 
are essentially arctic species, inhabiting shallow waters in the 
regions where they are most abundant. 

359 Hippoglossoides platessoides (Fabricus) 
Rough Dab 

Plenronectes platessoides Fabeicius, Fauna Groenlanclica, 164, 1780, Green- 
land. 

Platessa dentata Stoker, Rep. Fish. Mass. 143, 1839; Hist. Fish. Mass. 197, 
pi. XXX, fig. 3, 1867; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 298, 1842, New 
York markets. 

Hippoglossoides dentatus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 406, 1862. 

Evppoglossoides platessoides Gill, Proe.Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 217, 1864; Goode 
& Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 7, 1879; Jordan & Gilbert. Bull. 16, U. 
S. Nat. Mus. 826, 1883; Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 197, pi. 55, 
1884; Goode & Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 438, 1896; H. M. Smith, Bull U. 
S. F. C. 1897, 108, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
Ill, 2614, 1898; IV, pi. COCLXXII, fig. 919, 1900. 

The length of the body is two and one half times its depth 
and three and three fourths times the length of the head. Body 
ovate; mouth moderate, oblique; maxillary narrow, reaching to 
beyond pupil, two and two thirds in length of head; teeth rather 
small, conic, larger anteriorly, in one row in each jaw, those 
in the lower largest; eyes rather large, the upper longer than 
snout, four and one third in head; lower jaw included, but with 
a projecting knob at the chin; snout thick and scaly; inter- 
orbital space narrow, with a raised obtuse ridge, entirely cov- 
ered with rough scales in about six series; mandible with a 
series of scales; gill rakers rather short and robust, not toothed, 
about 10 below angle; longest raker less than one third length 
of eye; fins with small, rough scales; a strong preanal spine; 
pectoral not quite half length of head. D. 88 (80 to 93); A. 70 
(64to75);Lat. 1.90 (pores). 

Reddish brown, nearly plain. North Atlantic; abundant 
northward on both coasts. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK TIT 

De Kay described this flounder under the name of the toothed 
flatfish. He said it was extremely common in New York 
markets, where it is called the summer flounder, and that it 
grows to the length of 25 inches. It is a rather common food 
fish of the deep waters northward on both sides of the north 
Atlantic, ranging habitually south to Cape Cod and the coasts 
of England and Scandinavia. At Woods Hole it is sometimes 
called sand dab and rusty flounder. Dr Smith says it is not 
common there, but is found some years in winter in inshore 
waters adjacent to Woods Hole; specimens have been taken in 
February on lines. One year some were caught in a fyke net 
in Great harbor. In Massachusetts bay it is a common species 
in the deep waters, approaching the shores in winter. 

Genus paralichthys Girard 
Eyes and color normally on the left side; body oblong; mouth 
large, oblique; each jaw with a single row of usually slender 
and sharp teeth, which are more or less enlarged anteriorly, 
no teeth on vomer or palatines; gill rakers slender; scales small, 
weakly ctenoid or ciliated; lateral line simple, with a strongs 
curve anteriorly; dorsal fin beginning before the eye, its anterior 
rays not produced; both ventrals lateral; caudal fin double 
truncate, or double concave, its middle rays produced; no anal 
spine. Species numerous, found in all warm seas. This genus, 
as now restricted, contains a considerable number of species, 
inhabiting both coasts of America and the eastern and southern 
coasts of Asia. As indicated by the reduced number of verte- 
brae, the species range farther southward than do those of the 
type of Hippoglossoides. 

360 Paralichthys dentatus (Linnaeus) 

Summer Flounder 

Pleuronectes dentatus Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. XII, I, 458, 1766; Mitchill, 

Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 390. 1815. 
Pleuronectes melanogaster Mit'chiix, op. cit. 390, 1815, New York. 
Platessa ocellaris De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 300, pi. 47, fig. 152, 1842. 
PseudorJwmbus ocellaris Gtjntheb, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 430, 1862. 
Platessa oblonga Stoker, Hist. Fish. Mass. 201, pi. XXXI. fig. 2, 1867. 
PseudorJiombus dentatus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 7, 1879. 



< 1 8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Paralichthys ophryas Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 822, 1883. 

Paralichthys dentatus Goode, Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, 178. 1884 (part); 
Jordan, Cat. Fish. N. A. 134, 1885; Bean, 19th Rep. Oomm. Fish. N. 
Y. 246, pi. II, fig. 2, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus, Nat Hist. IX, 372, 1897; 
H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 108, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, 
Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2629, 1898; IV, pi. CCOLXXIII, fig. 922, 
1900; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 110, 1900. 

The depth of the body is contained two and one third times 
in its length, which is three and two thirds times the length of 
the head. Body oblong, moderately compressed; mouth wide, 
oblique, the mandible very heavy and much projecting; eight to 
10 teeth on side of lower jaw, the two anterior teeth very long; 
anterior teeth of upper jaw strong, but smaller than those in 
the lower jaw; the lateral teeth very small and close set; eyes 
small, shorter than snout, about one sixth length of head, and 
in adult as wide as the broad, flattish, scaly interorbital area. 
The latter is much narrower in the young. Scales small, cycloid; 
accessory scales few; gill rakers lanceolate, dentate, stoutish, 
wide set, much shorter than eye, the longest two and one half 
times as long as broad at base, five and one half in the maxil- 
lary, about 2+10 in number; pectoral fin about as long as maxil- 
lary, which extends beyond the eye, and is rather more than 
half length of head; dorsal low, its anterior rays somewhat 
exserted, but short; caudal double concave, the middle rays pro- 
duced; anal spine obsolete; ventrals small; fins all scaly. D. 
88 (85 to 93); A. 66 (65 to 73); Lat. 1. about 100. 

Blackish olive, mottled and blotched with darker; in life light 
brown; adults with numerous small white spots on body and 
vertical fins; sometimes a series of larger white spots along 
bases of dorsal and anal; about 14 ocellated dark spots on sides, 
these sometimes inconspicuous, but always present; a series of 
four or five along dorsal base, and three or four along anal 
base, those of the two series opposite, and forming pairs; two 
pairs of smaller, less distinct spots midway between these basal 
series and lateral line anteriorly, with a small one on lateral line 
in the center between them; a large distinct spot on lateral line 
behind middle of straight portion; fins without the round dark 
blotches. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 719 

Is styled flounder, or summer flounder , turbot flounder, 
toothed flatfish, fluke, and, in Great South bay, it shares the 
name flatfish with the Pseudopleuronectes ameri- 
canus. Brail and puckermouth are names applied to it in 
Rhode Island. The name fluke is the one most frequently used 
on Long Island. 

The fluke is a very abundant fish and is found on the eastern 
coast from about Cape Cod to the Gulf of Mexico. Centers of 
abundance are found on the Connecticut coast and on Long 
Island. 

It is a summer visitor in Gravesend bay, arriving in May or 
June, and leaving when cold weather begins. It frequents the 
sandy flats for the purpose of feeding on little fishes, which it 
destroys in large numbers. A fluke will often be found with 
eight or 10 little blackfish in its stomach, and young mackerel 
suffer greatly from its depredations. In Great South bay this 
fish was found at Blue Point cove and at Fire Island late in 
September, and was caught in traps at Islip October 1, 1890. 

Small fluke were collected in Mecox bay, Blue Point cove and 
at Islip in August 1898. Adults were obtained at Fire Island 
inlet Sep. 16 of that year, when they were abundant. In 1901 
the fish were taken at Fire Island inlet, Blue Point, and Smith's 
point. Aug. 1 they were feeding on small menhaden. The next 
day they were seen in Wigo inlet, and again chasing young men- 
haden. On that date more than half a barrel were caught in the 
inlet near buoy no. 2, with young menhaden for bait. One of 
the fluke disgorged a sand lance. 

It feeds on small fishes, crustaceans, mollusks and occasion- 
ally on sand dollars, and one of its favorite foods is said to be 
the squid. This fish is found generally in salt water, but fre- 
quently ascends fresh streams. Unlike the flatfish, it moves 
off into deep water in winter, and may be found in summer near 
the shores. The fluke has the same habit as the flatfish, of 
burying itself in the sand when alarmed, or secreting itself from 
its prey. It is often found feeding about wharves, whose sup- 
ports furnish it a suitable hiding place from which to dart on 



r20 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

small fishes when they are congregated in schools. I have seen 
large individuals cautiously wriggling their way upward in the 
concealment of a wharf pile till within easy reach of a shoal 
of silversides, when a sudden dart into the midst of the school 
would result in the capture of a fish, and the flounder would 
leisurely sink to digest its victim and prepare for another 
onslaught. It has been known to reach a weight of 26 pounds. 
Dr Goode has seen individuals measuring 3 feet in length. The 
fish is caught largely in weirs and traps. It is probable that 
more of them are taken in Vineyard sound and in Rhode Island 
waters than on any other parts of our coast. The fishing season 
extends from May to October. Thev are carried alive in well- 
smacks to the markets. Menhaden is the bait principally used 
for the capture of the fluke by hook and line. 

361 Paralichthys lethostigmus Jordan & Gilbert 
Southern Flounder 

Platessa ollonga De Kay, N.Y. Fauna, Fishes, 299, pi. 48, fig. 156, 1842, New- 
York, not Pleuronectes oUongns Mitchill. 

Paralichthys dentatus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 822, 
1883. 

Paralichthys lethostigma Jokdan & Gilbert, Proc. FT. S. Nat. Mus. 237, 
1884. 

Paralichthys lethostigmus Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. 
Ill, 2630, 1898. 

Body ovate, its depth contained two and one third times in its 
total length without the caudal; length of head about three and 
one half times in same length; depth of caudal peduncle con- 
tained two and one third times in length of head; eyes of mod- 
erate size, placed close together on the left side of the head: 
mouth large, jaws curved; maxilla reaching past vertical 
through eye; mandible projecting; anterior teeth of jaws 
strong; posterior small and close set; gill rakers 2+10, lanceo- 
late, wide set, shorter than eye; .scales smooth, small; dorsal 
originates in front of eye and continues almost to caudal; anal 
well separated from the ventrals; pectorals short, less than 
one half length of head; ventral moderately developed, about 
two thirds length of pectoral. D. 90; A. 70; V. 6. 

Color dusky olive, with a few darker mot.tlings and spots. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



721 



This is the fish which was described by Jordan and Gilbert 
under the name of the southern flounder. It inhabits the south 
Atlantic and Gulf coast of the United States, ranging north to 
New York. De Kay described and figured it as the oblong 
flounder, which he says grows to the length of 15 to 20 inches 
and occasionally larger. He states that it is common along 
the sandy shores of New York, and is procured abundantly in 
the months of September and October; that it is excellent eat- 
ing, and usually sells at from 6c to 8c a pound; that it is tena- 
cious of life and can be preserved in good condition for a long 
period. 

The southern flounder is very closely related to the fluke or 
summer flounder. It is, however, always darker in color and 
almost uniform, while the fluke is usually profusely spotted. 
The character by which it is best distinguished from the fluke, 
is the number of gill rakers. The southern flounder has only 
12, of which 10 are below the angle of the first arch, while the 
summer flounder has from 20 to 24, of which from 15 to 18 are 
below the angle of the first arch. 

362 Paralichthys oblongus (Mitchill) 
Four spotted Flounder 

Plenronectes ohlongus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 391, 1815. 

Platessa quadrocellata Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 203, pi. XXXI, fig. 3, 1867. 

Pseudorhombus oUongus Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 7, 1879. 

Paralichthys oUongus Goode, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 472, 1880; Jordan & 
Gilbert, Bull. 16, IT. S. Nat. Mus. 824, 1883; Goode & Bean, Oceanic 
Ichth. 436. 1896; H. M. Smith, Bull. IT. S. F. C. 1897, 108, 1898; Jordan 
& Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2632, 1898; IV, pi. 
OCCLXXIV, fig. 924, 1900. 

Body comparatively elongate, strongly compressed. The 

depth of the body is contained two and one fourth times in the 

length of the body, which is four times the length of the head. 

Eyes large, nearly four times in head, separated by a prominent 

narrow, sharp ridge; upper jaw with very numerous small, close 

set teeth laterally, and four or five canines in front, the lateral 

teeth abruptly smaller than the anterior, each side of lower 

jaw with seven to 10 teeth; chin prominent, maxillary narrow, 

reaching past middle of pupil, two and one fourth in length of 



722 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

head; gape curved; scales weakly ctenoid or cycloid; gill rakers 
thick, rather long, few, about eight below angle; dorsal low, 
beginning over front of eye, some of the anterior rays exserted, 
but not elongate, the longest rays behind middle of fin, not cpiite 
half head; caudal one and one fourth in head; pectoral one and 
three fifths; anal spine obsolete. D. 72; A. 60; Lat. 1. 93. (D. 
79; A. 59, according to Mitchill; D. 86; A. 76, according to Storer). 

Grayish, thickly mottled with darker and somewhat translu- 
cent; four large, horizontal oblong, black ocelli, each surrounded 
by a pinkish area, one just behind middle of body below the dor- 
sal, one opposite this above anal; two similar smaller spots below 
last rays of dorsal and above last of anal. < Atlantic coast, north- 
ward; not abundant. 

The four spotted flounder inhabits the coast of New England 
and New York. It is very common on the coast of New York 
and the neighboring islands. Mitchill described the fish in 1815. 
It grows to the length of about 14 inches. Its common name 
relates to the four large horizontal oblong black ocelli. At 
Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr Smith, it is common in May 
and June, scarce at other times. It is most abundant about 
June, during the run of scup. 

Young fish are rarely observed, but in the fall of 1885 and 1886 
large numbers, two or three inches long, were seen. The aver- 
age length of adults there is 12 inches. The fish spawns in May, 
and its eggs have been experimental ly hatched at Woods Hole. 
They are buoyant, -j* of an inch in diameter and hatch in eight 
days in water having a mean temperature of 51° to 56° F. In 
1877 a single example was taken at the mouth of Salem harbor 
by the U. S. Fish Commission. 

Genus lophopsetta Gill 
Eyes and color on the left side; body broadly ovate, strongly 
compressed, pellucid; mouth large, oblique, the maxillary reach- 
ing to beyond eye; teeth subequal, in narrow bands, or in single 
series; a small patch of teeth on the yomer; scales small, cycloid, 
imbricate, the skin without bony tubercles; lateral line strongly 
arched in front, without accessory branch; dorsal fin beginning 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 723 

on the snout, its anterior rays exserted; no preanal spine; 
ventral of left side free from the anal, inserted nearly on the 
ridge of the abdomen, its base broad, the rays well separated; 
pectoral and ventral fins moderate. One species. Very close 
to the European genus Bothus Kafinesque, from which it 
differs in the more numerous gill rakers, pellucid body and pro- 
duced dorsal rays. The European turbot, P s e 1 1 a Swainson, 
is also closely related, but the typical species, Psetta 
maxima, is a large, robust fish, scaleless and beset with bony 

tubercles. 

363 Lophopsetta maculata (Mitchill) 

Window Pane 

Pleuronectes maculatus Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 9, 1814. New York; 

De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 301, pi. 47, fig. 151, 1842; Stoker, Hist. 

Fish. Mass. 204, pi. XXXI, fig. 4, 1867. 
Pleuronectes aquosus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 389, pi. II, 

fig. 3, 1815, New York. 
Rhombus aquosus Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 411, 1862. 
Botlius maculatus Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 815, 1883; 

Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 372, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. 

S. F. C. 1897, 108, 1898; Bean, 52d Ann. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 110, 

1900. 
Lopliopsetta maculata Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila. 216, 1862; Goode & 

Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 6, 1879; Bean, 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. 

N. Y. 247, 1890; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 

2660, 1898; IV, pi. CCCEXXXII, fig. 938, 1900. 

The length of the body is one and three fifths times the depth 
of the body and three and three fourths times the length of the 
head. Body broadly rhomboid, Tery strongly compressed; inter- 
orbital area flattish; eye rather large, about equal to snout; teeth 
in both jaws in one series laterally, in a very narrow band in 
front; maxillary nearly half length of head; gill rakers rather 
long and slender, numerous, about 25 below the angle of the 
arch; scales well developed, cycloid, loosely imbricated; those of 
the blind side a little smaller; no bony tubercles; vertical fins 
scaly; anterior rays of dorsal elevated, branched, with free tips. 
D. 65; A. 52; Lat. 1. 85. 

Light olive brown, almost translucent, everywhere marbled 
with paler, and with many roundish, irregular, blackish blotches; 
fins spotted. Length 18 inches. Atlantic coast of the United 
States, very common northward. Size rather small. 



<1'4 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

This is the plaice according to Mitchill; it is known also as 
the watery flounder. De Kay calls it the spotted turbot and 
sand flounder. In Great Egg Harbor bay it is the window light. 
Windowpane and daylight are other names applied to the 
species. De Kay saw specimens 18 inches long. He says it is a 
delicate article of food. 

The windowpane is found on the east coast from Maine to 
North Carolina. Though abundant and well flavored and some- 
times reaching a length of a foot or more, it is not an important 
food fish. In Gravesend bay the fish delights in cold water. It 
is not adapted to captive life. In Great South bay we took it at 
Fire Island beach at the end of September 1890. In 1898 an 
individual was taken at Islip August 18. Young, examples were 
obtained at Fire Island inlet and Oak Island beach in September. 
In 1901 young individuals were obtained July 31 and Aug. 15 in 
Fire Island inlet. At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, 
it is found from April to late in the autumn. There is quite a 
large run about June 1, when the fish is full of spawn. The 
average size there is 10 to 12 inches. In experimental hatching 
of the eggs at Woods Hole, it was found that the eggs were buoy- 
ant, nonadhesive, 2 - 4 - of an inch in diameter, and that they hatch 
in eight days when the average water temperature is 51° 
to 56° F. 

Genus etropus Jordan & Gilbert 

Eyes and color on left side; body regularly oval, deep and 
compressed; head small; mouth very small, the teeth close set, 
slender, and pointed, somewhat incurved, mostly on the blind 
side, no teeth on vomer; eyes small, separated by a narrow, 
scaleless ridge; margin of preopercle free; ventrals free from 
anal, that of colored side inserted on ridge of abdomen, its base 
rather long; dorsal fin beginning above eye; caudal double 
truncate; anal without spine; scales thin, deciduous, ctenoid on 
left side, cycloid on blind side; lateral line simple, nearly 
straight. Size small. This genus is very close to C i t h a r - 
i c h t h y s , from which it differs only in the very small size of 
the mouth and in the correspondingly weak dentition. The three 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 725 

or four known species are similar in appearance to the species 
of Citharichthys, and they inhabit the same waters. 
The larval form is translucent and symmetric, as in Plato- 
phrys, Monolene, and Arnoglossus. 
364 Etropus microstomus (Gill) 
Smallmouthed Flounder 

Citharichthys microstomus Gill, Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila, 223, 1864, Bees- 
ley's Point N. J.; Bean, Bull. U. S. F. C. VII, 135, 1888, Great Egg 
Harbor Bay N. J.; Joedan, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 332, 1890; Goode & 
Bean, Oceanic Ichth. 446, 1896. 

Etropus mwrostomus Joedan & Goss, Rep. TJ. S. F. C. for 1886, 278, 1889; 
Bean, 19th Rep. C'omm. Fish. N. Y. 247, 1890. 

Body ovate. The depth of the body is contained two and one 
tenth times in its length, which is three and one half times the 
length of the head. Mouth small, very oblique, the gape curved; 
maxillary two and two thirds times in length of head, reaching 
beyond middle of orbit; snout projecting; eyes small, even, 
shorter than snout, about six in head, separated by a narrow 
ridge, which is concave and scaleless anteriorly; teeth all small, 
front teeth of upper jaw wide set, much larger than posterior, 
which are close together and very small, teeth of lower jaw 
few, wide apart; gill rakers short and strong, 13 below angle; 
pectorals short, less than half length of head; scales large, 
those on middle of sides posteriorly largest. D. 80; A. 61; Lat. 
1. 45. Individuals from Great Egg Harbor bay have: D. 74; 
A. 55; scales 41 to 42. 

Olive brownish, usually with large blotches of darker; a 
series of distinct, obscure, blackish blotches along the basal 
portions of the anal and dorsal fins. Size small. Tropical 
America, north to Long Island occasionally in summer. 

The smallmouthed flounder was first described many years 
ago by Dr Gill, from a specimen obtained on the New Jersey 
coast. The fish was not seen again till we collected it in Great 
South bay, where it was found in moderate numbers at Fire 
Island, and near Blue Point cove Lifesaving station in Septem- 
ber 1884. Since that time it has been found sufficiently common 
in various parts of Great Egg Harbor bay, N. J., during August 



726 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

and September, and has also been taken in Great South bay. 
The individuals collected in Great Egg Harbor bay, varied from 
2 inches to 4J inches in length. One of these was dextral and. 
all the rest sinistral as usual. 

Genus limanda Gottsche 
Teeth chiefly uniserial; lateral line with a distinct arch in 
front and without accessory dorsal branch; scales imbricated, 
rough ctenoid; vertebrae about 40. This genus is closely allied 
to Pseudopleuronectes, from which it differs only in 
the presence of an arch on the anterior part of the lateral line. 

36*5 Limanda ferruginea (Storer) 
Sand Dab 

Platessa ferruginea Stoker, Rep. Fish. Mass. 141, pi. 2, 1839; Hist. Fish. 

Mass. 198, pi. XXX, fig. 4, 1867; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 297, pi. 

48, fig. 155, 1842. 
Platessa rostrata H. R. Stoker, Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist. V, I, 268, pi. VIII, 

fig. 2, 1857. 
Pleuronectes ferrugineus Gunther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 447, 1862; Jor- 
dan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 834, 1883. 
Limanda ferruginea Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 6, 1879; Oceanic 

Ichth. 427, 1896; Goode. Fish & Fish. Ind. U. S. I, pi. 49, 1884; H. M. 

Smith, Bull. TJ. S. F. C. 1897, 108, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, BulL. 

47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2644, 1898; IV, pi. GOCLXXVII, fig. 929, 1900. 

The length of the body is two and one fifth times its depth and 
four times the length of the head. Body ovate-elliptic, strongly 
compressed; teeth small, conic, close set, in a single series on 
each side in each jaw; snout projecting, forming a strong angle 
above upper eye with the descending profile ; gill rakers of mod- 
erate length, very weak, not toothed; eye moderate, four and one 
half in head, the lower slightly in advance of the upper, sepa- 
rated by a high, very narrow ridge, which is scaled posteriorly 
and is continued backward as an inconspicuous but rough ridge 
to the beginning of the lateral line; scales imbricate,- nearly uni- 
form, those on right side rough ctenoid, those on left side nearly 
or quite smooth, scales on body rougher than on cheeks; caudal 
peduncle short, higher than long; dorsal inserted over middle of 
eye, its middle ray highest; pectoral less than two fifths length 
of head; caudal fin rounded; anal spine present; lateral line 
simple, with a rather low arch in front, the depth of which is 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 727 

barely two fifths the length; a concealed spine behind ventrals; 
ventral of colored side partly lateral, the other wholly so; anal 
spine strong. D. 85; A. 62; Lat. 1. 100. 

Brownish olive, with numerous, irregular reddish spots; fins 
similarly marked; left side with caudal fin, caudal peduncle, and 
margins of dorsal and anal fins lemon yellow. Atlantic coast, 
chiefly northward. 

This is also known as the rusty dab. It inhabits the coast of 
North America from Labrador to New York. De Kay calls it 
the rusty flatfish, which he says is a rare species, reported by 
the fishermen to occur only in deep water. The specimen 
described by him was 18 inches long. According to Dr Smith, 
it is very common in Vineyard sound and observed by him in 
water from 10 to 12 fathoms deep, where it may be found 
throughout the year. There is no fishery, but numbers are 
caught incidently while bottom fishing for other species. In 
Great harbor a few are taken in fyke nets, only in winter. The 
average length there is about 11 inches. In Massachusetts bay 
it is a common resident species, inhabiting deep waters in sum- 
mer, and approaching the shores in winter. 

Genus pseudopleuronectes Bleeker 
Body oblong, with firm flesh; the scales firm, regularly imbri- 
cated, strongly ctenoid on eyed side in both sexes; fin rays scaly; 
mouth small; teeth uniseriai, incisorlike, close set, all more or 
less blunt, lower pharyngeals very narrow, each with two rows 
of separate, conic teeth. This genus is distinguished from 
Pleuronectes chiefly by the well imbricated ctenoid scales, 
and from L i m a n d a , which it more closely resembles, by the 
want of arch to the lateral line. 

366 Pseudopleuronectes americanus (Walbaum) 
Flatfish; Winter Floimder 

Pleuronectes americanus Walbaum, Art. Gen. Pise. Ill, 113, 1792; Gtjnther, 

Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. IV, 443, 1862; Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. 

Nat. Mus. 837, 1883. 
Pleuronectes planus Mitchill, Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 387, 1815, 

New York. 
Platessa plana Storer, Rep. Fish. Mass. 140, 1839; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, 

Fishes, 295, pi. 48, fig. 154, 1842; Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 195, pi. 

XXX, fig. 2, 1867. 



'28 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Platcssa pusilla De Kay, op. cit. 296, pi. 47, fig. 153, 1842, New York. 
Pseudopleuronectes americanus Gill. Proc. Ac. Nat. Sci. Phila, 216, 1864; 

Goode. Fish & Fish. Inch U. S. I, 182, pi. 44, 1884; Bean, 19th Rep. 

Comm. Fish. N. Y. 245, pi. I, fig. 1, 1890; Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

IX, 373, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. 0. 1897, 108, 1898; Jordan & 

Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2647, 1898; IV, pi. 

CCCLXXIX, fig. 933, 1900; Bean, 52d Aim. Rep. N. Y. State Mus. 

110, 1900; Sherwood & Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. G. 1901, 31, 1901. 

Body elliptic, an angle above eye. The length of the body is 
two and one fourth times its depth and four times the length of" 
the head. Head covered above with imbricated, strongly ctenoid 
scales similar to those on body; blind side of head nearly naked; 
interorbital space rather broad, strongly convex, its width half 
eye; the space entirely scaled; teeth compressed, incisorlike, and 
widened toward tips, close set, forming a continuous cutting 
edge, some of teeth often emarginate, sometimes movable ; right 
side of both jaws toothless; highest dorsal rays leas than length 
of pectorals, and more than half length of head; anal spine 
present. D. 65; A. 48; Lat. 1. 83. 

Dark rusty brown, spotted or nearly plain; young olive brown, 
more or less spotted and blotched with reddish. 

The common flatfish is equally well known as flounder or win- 
ter flounder. It ranges from the Chesapeake bay to Labrador 
and appears to be alike abundant in both limits of its distribu- 
tion. The flatfish was found in Blue Point cove, at Blue Point 
Lifesaving station, and on Fire Island beach. It was moderately 
common in all of these localities. The species is a permanent 
resident of Great South bay, but undergoes a partial hibernation 
in the mud in winter, and the adults in summer migrate into 
deeper and cooler water. A few individuals were observed by 
me in a fish pound at Islip Oct. 1, 1890. 

Dr Mitchill describes two color varieties of the flatfish. One 
of these had a yellow margin on the lower side, surrounding the 
white of that side. This border was three fourths of an inch 
wide and in striking contrast with the pearl of the contiguous 
parts within it and the brown of the adjacent fins. The other 
variety, obtained Ap. 9, 1815, has " a wmiteness of the upper side 
nearly as clear as that of the nether surface over rather more 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 729 

than half its extent. The anterior part is blanched in this man- 
ner. The dorsal fin very sensibly partakes of the lighter hue; 
but its dark brown is tinctured with yellow, specially on the rays. 
Something of the same kind, though less distinct, is observable 
on the ventral fins, and on about a dozen rays of the anal. The 
length of this individual was o inches and the breadth 3. Dr 
De Kay obtained a specimen in April which was reversed and 
double. " Its color on both sides was uniform bronze, with a 
white patch on its right side near the chin, almost entirely 
denuded of scales; it had the singular protuberance over the 
eye, noticed by Dr Mitchill in his melanogaster." 

On the New Jersey coast young individuals are very common 
in summer, but the adults are rarely found except in the winter. 

At Woods Hole Mass. this is a very abundant permanent resi- 
dent, frequenting muddy or grassy bottoms. The average weight 
of those taken in the immediate vicinity of the Fish Commission 
station was only 1 pound, but larger fish are found in the deeper 
water of the sound and bay. In October fish averaging 2 
pounds and apparently migrating are taken with lines in Vine- 
yard sound on sandy bottom. 

In the markets this species is extremely common in the winter 
and spring months and the flesh is delicious even when the eggs 
are nearly mature. It feeds on small shells, crabs and other 
invertebrates living in the mud. When at rest it partly sub- 
merges itself in the sand or mud, and changes its color to suit 
its surroundings. 

In Long Island bays the flatfish spawns from February to the 
end of March, and in July the young have attained to the length 
of half an inch. At Woods Hole Mass. according to Dr Smith, it 
spawns from February to April. On being transferred to tanks 
containing running water, many deposit their eggs during the 
night. The eggs are ^ - of an inch in diameter and very glutinous, 
sticking together in masses of various sizes. The average num- 
ber to a fish is 500,000. Mar. 6, 1897, a fish that weighed 3£ 
pounds after spawning furnished 30 fluid ounces of eggs, num- 
bering 1,462,000. The eggs hatch in 17 or 18 days, when the 
mean water temperature is 37° or 38° F. 



730 NEW YORK STATE MUSEiUM 

Genus platophrys Swainson 

Eyes and color on the left side; body ovate, strongly com- 
pressed; mouth of the large type, but comparatively small; the 
maxillary one third or less of the length of the head; teeth 
small, subequal, in one or two series, no teeth on vomer or 
palatines; interorbital space broad and concave, broadest in 
adult males; gill rakers moderate; dorsal fin beginning in front 
of eye, all its rays simple; ventral of colored side on ridge of 
abdomen; caudal convex behind; pectoral of left side usually 
with one or more filamentous rays, longest in the male; scales 
very small, ctenoid, adherent; lateral line with a strong arch 
in front; coloration usually variegated. 

All the species are extremely closely related and can be dis- 
tinguished with difficulty. On the other hand, the variations 
due to differences of age and sex are greater than in any other 
of our genera. 

367 Platophrys ocellatus (Agassiz) 
Sand Flounder 

Rhombus ocellatus Agassiz, Spix, Pise. Brasil. 85, pi. 46, 1829, Brazil. 
Platopftrys nebularis Jordan & Gilbert, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 31, 143, 

1884, Key West; Goode & Bean, Oceanic IcMh. 441, 1896. 
RJiomboidichthys ocellatus Gtjnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus, IV, 433, 1862; 

Poey, Syn. Pise. Gubens. 4.08, 1868. 
Platophrys ocellatus Swainson, Nat. Hist. Class'n Fishes, II, 302, 1839; 

Bean, 19th Rep. C'omm. Fish. N. Y. 247, 1890; Jordan & Bvermann, 

Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2663, 1898; IV, pi. OCGLXXXII, fig. 939, 

1900. 

Body rhomboid ovate, its depth one half of the total length; 
length of head one fourth of total without caudal; mouth small, 
oblique; eyes large, the diameter of the upper eye contained two 
and two thirds times in length of head, almost equal to depth 
of caudal peduncle; teeth conic, the upper jaw with two series, 
the lower with one; the dorsal fin originates a short distance 
from tip of upper jaw and continues to caudal; ventral origin 
on a vertical through front of eye; the ventral and anal sepa- 
rated by a short space; pectoral of eyed side about equal in 
length to caudal; scales of moderate size, those of colored side 






FISHES OF NEW YORK 731 

•ctenoid, of blind side smooth; lateral line sharply arched over 
two thirds of pectoral. D. 85; A. 64; V. 6 (5 on' blind side). 

Color light gray with reddish tinge; spots and blotches of 
darker on head and body; also lighter rings inclosing spaces 
of ground color; dorsal and anal with a black spot on each 
sixth or eighth ray. 

The sand flounder, or spotted flounder, is a native of the 

western Atlantic, from New York southward to the Gulf of 

Mexico and the West Indies, and perhaps to Kio Janeiro on 

sandy shores. It is a small species, the largest individual 

taken being only 3 inches in length. Two small examples of 

this little flounder were collected at Fire Island inlet beach 

Sep. 30, 1890. These specimens were obtained on a sand beacb 

in shallow water. The discovery of this fish in Great South 

bay was entirely unexpected, as this is many degrees north of 

its original habitat. 

Family soleidae 

Soles 
Genus achirus Lacepede 

Eyes and color on the right side; body oblong, bluntly rounded 
anteriorly; head small; eyes small, close together, the upper 
eye in advance of the lower, the two separated by a bony ridge; 
mouth small, somewhat turned toward the colored side; nasal 
flaps present, the nostril of the blind side fringed; lip of the 
colored side fringed; teeth very small, on blind side only; gill 
openings rather narrow, but confluent below, not reduced to a 
slit; the branchiostegal region scaled; head closely scaled every- 
where, the scales on the colored side similar to those on the 
body, those of the nape and chin much enlarged; scales on the 
blind side anteriorly with their pectinations more or less pro- 
duced, forming cirri, scales of both sides extremely rough, 
extending on the fins; lateral line straight, simple; edge of pre- 
opercle covered by the scales; dorsal beginning on the snout, 
low in front and thickly scaled, its rays divided; anal fin simi- 
lar, without spine; caudal fin free, convex; caudal peduncle very 



':>>: 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



short and deep; pectoral fin of left side wanting, that of right 
side small or obsolete; ventral rays three or four, the ventral 
fin of the colored side long, connected with the anal by a mem- 
brane. This strongly marked genus contains numerous species, 
*\11 very closely related, and nearly all American. 

368 Achirus fasciatus Lacep&de 
American Sole; HogcJioTcer 

Achirus fasciatus Lacepede, Hist. Nat. Poiss. IV, 659, 662, 1803, Charles- 
ton; Jordan & Goss. Rep. U. S. P. C. 1886, 315, 1889; Bean, Bull. Am. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 373, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. 0. 1897, 108,. 
1898; Eugene Smith, Proe. Linn. Soc. N. Y. 1897, 41, 1898; Mearns, 
Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. X, 322, 1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, 
TJ. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2700, 1898; IV, pi. CCCLXXXVII, fig. 948, 1900r 
Bean, 52d Ann. Hep. N. Y. State Mus. 110, 1900. 

Pleuronectes mollis Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 9, 1814; Trans. Lit. & Phil. 
Soc. N. Y. I, 388, pi. II, fig. 4, 1815. 

Achirus mollis De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 303, pi. 49, fig. 159, 1842; 
Storer, Hist. Fish. Mass. 206, pi. XXXII, fig. 1, 1867; Bean, Bull. 
U. S. F. C. VII, 134, 1888; 19th Rep. Comm. Fish. N. Y. 244, 1890. 

Achirus lineatus Cuvier, Regne Anim. ed. 2, II, 343, 1829, and of various 
American authors. 

Form a well rounded oval, regular in outline; head small, its 
length about one fourth of standard body length; the depth of 
the body equals one half of the total length; eyes minute, close 
together on right side of head; mouth small, curved; lateral line 
distinct, straight; dorsal fin continuous from snout to caudal; 
ventral connected by membrane with anal, the latter then con- 
tinuous to caudal; caudal peduncle broad, the fin thumb-shaped; 
body everywhere densely scaled; anterior dorsal rays scaled; 
about 75 rows of scales along lateral line. D. 55; A. 40; V, 4. 

General color olive brown; body and fins with numerous black 
spots and clouded areas; usually from six to eight vertical 
narrow cross bands of black; left side whitish, usually much 
mottled with dark spots and shadings. 

This is called hogchoker, cover clip, or cover, calico and Ameri- 
can sole, the name calico is used on the New Jersey shore oppo- 
site New York. The American sole has a wide distribution along 
our east coast, but is not important for food, and sometimes 
proves very inconvenient to pigs, as may be inferred from one 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 733 

of its common names. Dr De Kay has eaten the species, how- 
ever, and pronounces it to have a delicate flavor. Dr Mitchill 
also describes it as " delicate eating." De Kay records it as high 
up the Hudson as Peekskill. The following interesting observa- 
tions are to be found in his work: "When it is taken from the 
water, it escapes readily from the hand by an undulating move- 
ment, in which it is aided by its mucous surface and by an eleva- 
tion of its scales beneath. By the same means it can make con- 
siderable progress over a moderately smooth surface. It is 
extremely tenacious of life, and I kept one alive four days out 
of water." Another very curious habit of the American sole is 
that of clinging to the glass front or side of an aquarium for 
an indefinite length of time. It is common on the shallow flats 
of Great South bay in the summer and early fall. We obtained 
specimens at the mouth of Swan creek and in Blue Point cove 
in September 1890. This species is abundant in Swan creek, at 
Patchogue L. I., and many very young examples were taken 
there in the summer and fall of 1898, where the water was 
brackish and, at low tide, fresh. In 1901 this species was taken 
at Howell's point, Duncan's creek and Smith's point. 

Eugene Smith caught one very small example in a tidal creek 
of the Hackensack river, where the water was fresh. He states 
that it is believed that soles spawn in fresh water. 

The American sole, or calico flounder, has been obtained in 
Gravesend bay every month of the year except the first four. It 
is hardy in captivity. Its habit of clinging to the glass front and 
the walls of its tank is interesting. 

Order pediculati 

Pediculate Fishes 
Family lophiidae 
Fishing Frogs 
Genus lophius (Artedi) Linnaeus 
Head wide, depressed, very large; body contracted, conic, 
tapering rapidly backward from the shoulders; mouth exceed- 
ingly large, terminal, opening into an enormous stomach; upper 
jaw protractile, maxillary without supplementary bone; lower 



734 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

jaw projecting; both jaws with very strong, unequal, cardiform 
teeth, some of the teeth caninelike, most of them depressible; 
vomer and palatines usually with strong teeth; gill openings 
comparatively large, in the lower axil of the pectorals; pseudo- 
branchiae present; no gill rakers; gills three; skin mostly 
smooth, naked, with many dermal flaps about the head; spinous 
dorsal of three isolated, tentaclelike spines on the head, and 
three smaller ones behind, which form a continuous fin; second 
dorsal moderate, similar to the anal; pectoral members scarcely 
geniculated, each with two actinosts and with elongate pseudo- 
brachia; ventrals jugular, I, 5, widely separated, large, much 
enlarged in the young. Young with the head spinous. Pyloric 
caeca present. Vertebrae numerous, about 30 in number. 
Living on sea bottoms, at moderate depths; remarkable for 

great voracity. 

369 Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus 

Angler; Cfoosefish; Bellows Fish 

Lophius piscatorius Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 236, 1758; Mitchill, 
Trans. Lit. & Phil. Soc. N. Y. I, 465, 1815; Gunther, Oat. Fish. Brit. 
Mus. Ill, 179, 1861; Goode & Bean, Bull. Essex Inst. XI, 2, 1879; Jor- 
dan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, U. S. Nat. Mus. 844, 1883; Bean, Bull. Am. 
Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 373, 1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 109, 
1898; Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2713, 1898; 
IV, pi. COCLXXXVIII, fig. 952 (skeleton), 1900; Sherwood & 
Edwards, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1901, 31, 1901. 

Lophius piscator Mitchill, Rep. Fish. N. Y. 28, 1814, Long Island. 

Lophius americanus Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XII, 380, 
1837; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 162, pi. 28, fig. 87, '1842; Storer, 
Hist. Fish. Mass. 101, pi. XVIII, fig. 2, 1867. 

Body depressed, tapering, scarcely longer than head; humeral 
spine with points, of which the posterior is the longest; head sur- 
rounded with a fringe of barbels; top of head in young with 
many strong spines; anterior dorsal spine elongate, fleshy at tip. 
D. I-I-I, 111-10; A. 9. 

Brownish, mottled, below white; mouth from behind the hyoid 
bone immaculate; pectorals and caudal black at tip; peritoneum 
black. North Atlantic, on both coasts; generally common, from 
North Carolina northward. A fish of singular ugliness of 
appearance. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 735 

De Kay calls this fish the American angler. He says it is not 
an nnconinion fish in New York waters, and that among its 
popular names are sea devil, fishing frog, bellows fish, goosefish, 
monkfish, and various others. The largest one he saw was 4 feet 
long. It is not eaten, but is often opened by fishermen for the 
numerous fishes which are found in its stomach. He says it is 
found on the south side of Long Island. 

The angler is moderately abundant on the fishing banks in the 
vicinity of New York city, and small ones are sometimes caught 
in Gravesend bay. No examples of this fish were obtained by 
me in Great South bay during three seasons of summer investiga- 
tions, but it is found sparingly in the ocean adjacent to the bay. 

According to Dr Smith, it is abundant in Vineyard sound, 
usually from Ap. 1 to July 1, some seasons from April to Novem- 
ber, or as late as the traps are set. Traps often take boat loads 
of these fish, which are carried to the shore and put on the land. 
No other use is made of them, though the flesh is considered very 
palatable. Those caught in traps are from 4 inches to 4 feet 
long. The young keep off shore in deep water and are never 
taken in the seine. The spawn is often found floating in Vine- 
yard sound. During the fall of 1900, according to Sherwood and 
Edwards, anglers were very abundant in Great harbor, at 
Woods Hole Mass. and late in the fall several large ones were 
washed, ashore. The fish are not often seen near Woods Hole, 
though abundant at Menemsha and Cuttyhunk, where the shores- 
are frequently strewn with their bleached skeletons. 

In Massachusetts bay it is a common resident of the deep 
waters, often coming to the shores. An individual about 4 
inches in length was taken off the banks of Newfoundland in 
1856. This is probably the most northern recorded occurrence 
of the fish in the western Atlantic, except the unconfirmed state- 
ment by Pennant of its appearance in Hudson's bay. The angler 
ranges from North Carolina northward. Mitchill called this fish 
the sea devil. 

Family antexxariidae 
Genus pterophryxe Gill 

Body smooth or scarcely granular, short, somewhat com- 
pressed, with tumid abdomen; mouth small, oblique; palate with 



73G 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



teeth; wrist and pectoral fin slender; ventrals elongated; soft 
dorsal and anal vertically expanded. Small fishes of fantastic 
shape in the West Indies and Gulf Stream. 

370 Pterophryne histrio (Linnaeus) 

Mousefish 

Lophius histrio Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 237, 1758. 

Chironectes laev&gatus Stoker, Rep. Fish. Mass. 73, 1839; De Kay, N. Y. 

Fauna. Fishes, 165, pi. 27, tig. 83, 1842. 
Antenna ritis histrio Jordan & Gilbert, Bull. 16, IJ. S. Nat. Mus. 846, 1883. 
Pterophryne histrio Gill, Froc. U. S. Nat. Mus. 216, 1878; Goode & Bean, 

Oceanic Ichth. 486, 1896; Bean, Bull. Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. IX, 373, 

1897; H. M. Smith, Bull. U. S. F. C. 1897, 109, 1898; Jordan & Ever- 

mann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus. Ill, 2716, 1898. 

The length of the body is one and four fifths times its depth 
and two and one fourth times the length of the head; skin of 
head and body, as well as dorsal fins, with fleshy tags, which 
are most numerous on the dorsal spines and abdomen; wrist 
slender; ventrals large, nearly half as long as head; dorsal and 
anal with posterior rays not adnate to the caudal peduncle. 
D. 111-14; A. 7; V. 5. 

Yellowish, marbled with brown; three dark bands radiating 
from eye; vertical fins barred with brown; belly and sides with 
small white spots. Tropical parts of Atlantic; abundant on our 
Gulf coast and occasional northward. 

The mousefish inhabits the tropical parts of the Atlantic. 
It is abundant on our Gulf coast and occasional northward to 
Cape Cod, specially in floating masses of Sargassum. It was 
once taken in Europe in floating seaweed, from the Gulf 
Stream, and has been recorded from the coast of Senegambia. 

De Kay described this species under the name of the smooth 
mousefish. He refers to the descriptions of Cuvier and Valen- 
ciennes, and Storer. He states that the geographic range of 
the species at that time was known to extend from Charleston 
to Boston. 

This species is not uncommon in summer in floating masses of 
gulf weed brought near our shores by the Gulf Stream and other 
currents. An example was caught off the ocean shore of Long 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 737 

Island in August 1897. At Woods Hole Mass., according to Dr 
Smith, it was taken in 1877. In November 1885, 12 specimens 
were seined in Quissett harbor. From that year till 1897 none 
were observed, but in 1897 the fish were comparatively common 
in Vineyard sound. During July there was an unusual preva- 
lence of southerly winds, and a large quantity of sargasso weed 
was blown in from the Gulf Stream, and with it this fish, which 
he calls the marbled angler. In Vineyard sound, a few miles 
from Woods Hole, 50 individuals were taken July 24, 1897. 
Probably not less than 100 specimens were taken during that 
year. Many were kept alive in aquaria for several weeks. Some 
remain under or among the gulf weed at the surface, some con- 
ceal themselves in the algae on the bottom, some hide behind 
stones and other objects, and some seek crevices among rocks. 
While clumsy in their movements, they were adept in approach- 
ing and capturing other fishes. They were cannibalistic, one 
about 6 inches long swallowing another 1 inches long, and they 
frequently bit off the fleshy dermal appendages of their fellows. 
In August several spawned in the aquarium. The eggs are con- 
nected in long bands, like those of the angler. It is reported 
that in the summer of 1889 the fish was not uncommon off Xan- 
tucket, and in 1897, eight specimens were taken in gulf weed off 
that island. 

Family ogcocephalidae 
Bat fishes 

Genus ogcocephalus Fischer 
Body stoutish, tapering backward; head very broad and de- 
pressed, triangular in form, the forehead elevated and produced; 
eyes large, lateral; mouth rather small, subinferior under the 
snout; villiform teeth in bands on jaws, vomer and palatines; 
skin covered with rough, bony tubercles; dorsal and anal fins 
very small; rostral tentacle present, retractile into a cavity 
under a bony prominence on the forehead; ventrals present, I, 5, 
well separated; pectorals large, placed horizontally; gills 2J; no 
air bladder; no pyloric caeca. Tropical America, in shallow 
water. Small fishes of singular form, often regarded by the 
ignorant as venemous. 



738 NEW YORK STATE MUSEIUM 

371 Ogcocephalus vespertilio (Linnaeus) 

Bat fish; Malthe 

Lophius vespertilio Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. ed. X, I, 236, 1758. 

Malthaea vespertilio Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poiss. XII, 440;. 

1837; De Kay, N. Y. Fauna, Fishes, 167, 1842. 
Malthe vespertilio GtJnther, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. Ill, 200, 1861; Jordan & 

Gilbert, Bull. 16, TJ. S. Nat. Mus. 850, 1883. 
Ogcocephalus vespertilio Jordan & Evermann, Bull. 47, U. S. Nat. Mus* 

III, 2737, 1898; IV, pi. CCCXOII,. figs. 958, 958a, 958b, 1900; Bean,. 

Science, N. S. IX, no. 211, 8, 1899. 

Anterior half of body (the head), between eyes and gill open- 
ings, much depressed and broadened, the greatest width in front 
of gill openings equaling distance from tip of rostral process ta 
gill openings or about half length of entire fish; from gill open- 
ings to caudal the body is rounded, tapering to the tail; the 
width of the body at the vent equals one third of the width 
at gill openings; forehead produced in a subconic process of vary- 
ing length, its length measured from eye being contained six 
and one half times or more in total length without caudal ; mouth 
small, inferior; jaws, vomer, and palatines with bands of villi- 
form teeth. D. 4; A. 4; V. I, 5. 

Color dark gray and brown, often varying from almost black 
to light gray and orange. 

The batfish is a West Indian species, ranging north to the 
Florida Keys, and has been taken at least once in the harbor of 
New York. It grows to a length of 12 inches. De Kay did not 
meet with this fish on the coast of New York, but he copies the 
description of Cuvier and Valenciennes. In the midsummer of 
1854 or 1855, Dr Theodore Gill saw an individual of this species,, 
which was recently caught at a wharf at the foot of 27th st. 
East river, New York. No record of its occurrence was pub- 
lished, but the writer noted this circumstance in Science, Jan. 13,. 
1899, n. s. v. 9. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 739 

RECORDED DISTRIBUTION OP NEW YORK FISHES 





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X 


x 


2 P. marinus unicolor .. 




X 
X 




















3 Ichthyomyzon concolor. .... 


X 
X 


X 


... 


X 


X 
X 














4 Lampetra wilderi .... 






























X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 




6 Mustelus canis. . ..... 
























7 Galeocerdo tigrinus . . . . . . ... 
























8 Prionace glauca .. ... 
























9 Carcharhinus obscurus....- . 
























10 C. milberti 
























11 Aprionodon isodon. . . 
























12 Scoliodon terrae-novae 
























13 Sphyrna tiburo . ....... . 
























14 S. zygaena. . .......... 
























15 Alopias vulpes . . . .. .... 
























16 Carcharias littoralis 
























17 Isurus dekayi . .. .. 
























18 Lamna cornubica . 
























19 Carcharodon carcharias .... 
























20 Cetorhinus maximus 
























21 Squalus acanthias 
























22 Squatina sq uatina . . 
























23 Raja erinacea 
























24 R. ocellata. . .. 
























25 R. eglanteria - 
























26 R. lae vis 
























27 Tetranarce occidentalis . . 
























28 Dasyatis centrura . ...... 
























29 D. hastata 
























30 D. say 
























31 Pteroplatea maclura . .. . 
























32 Myliobatis f rerninvillei . 
























33 Rhinoptera bonasus 

34 Polyodon spathula . 
























X 










X 












35 Acipenser sturio 




X 
X 
X 
X 














X 


X 


36 A. rubicundus 


X 


... 


... 


X 














37 A. brevirostri s . . .... 












X 


x 


38 Lepisosteus osseus 


X 
X 
X 


... 


... 


X 


X 
X 
X 












39 L. platostomus 














40 Araia calva ... 


X 


X 


... 


X 














41 Felichtbys marinus 










X 
X 




42 Galeichthys felis 
























43 Ictalums punctatus 


X 
X 
X 
X 






















44 Ameiurus lacustris 


X 
X 


X 


... 


X 
















45 A. natalis .... 
















46 A. vulgari s .. - 






X 
















47 A. catus .... .... . 




X 
X 


X 


X 
X 
X 








48 A. nebulosus 1 


X 


... 


X 


... 


X 


X 


X 






49 A . nebulosus marmoratus 




50 A. rnelas 


X 


... 


X 






X 












51 Noturus flavus 














52 Schilbeodes gyrinus 1 


X 


X 























1 Recorded also from the Walkill, Passaic and Hackensack. 



740 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Recorded distribution of New York fishes (continued) 



53 S. insignis x 

54 S. miurus x 

55 Carpiodes thompsoni x 

56 Catostomus catostomus 

57 C. commersonii 1 x 

58 C. nigricans , x 

59 Erimyzon sueetta 2 

€0 E. sueetta oblongus 

61 Miuytrema melanops 

62 Moxostoma anisurum 

63 M. aureolum - 

64 Campostoma anomalum 

65 Chrosomus erytbrogaster 

66 Hybognathus nuchalis 

67 Pimephales promelas 

68 P. notatus 

69 Seinotilus bullaris 

70 S. atromaculatus 

71 Tinea tinea 

72 Leuciscus eloDgatus 

73 L. lnargarita.. 

74 Idus idus 

75 Abramis crysoleucas 1 

76 A. crysoleucas roseus, Cen'l Park 
76^ Cliola vigilax 

77 Notropis bifrenatus 

78 N. auogenus x 

79 N. eayuga x x 

80 N. heterodon x x 

81 N. blennius 

82 N. procne 

83 N. budsonius x 

84 N. budsonius amarus x 

85 N. wbipplii x x x 

86 N. cornutus x ... x 

87 N. cornutus frontalis x x 

88 N. atheriuoides x x 

89 N. lubvirYons 

90 N. amoenus 

91 N. umbratilis 

91£ Ericymba buccata x 

92/ Rbinicbthys cataractae x x x ..J x 

S3 R. atronasus 1 x ... x ...| x 

91 Hybopsis dissiuiilis x 

94| H. amblops x 

95 H. storerianus 

96 H. kentuckiensis 

97 Conesins plumbeus 

98 Exoglossum raaxillingua 

99 Carassius auratus 

100 Cyprinus carpio x x 

101 Auguilla cbrysypa 1 x x 

' Recorded also from the Walkill, Passaic and Hackensack 
- Recorded also Iroin the Passaic and Hackensack. 



O 



i ... 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



741 



Recorded distribution of New York fishes (continued) 



102 Leptocepbalus conger 

103 Tarpon atlanticus 

104 Elops saurus 

105 Albula vnlpes 

106 Hiodon tergisus v . 

107 H. alosoides , 

108 Dorosoma cepedianum 

109 Etrumeus teres 

110 Clupea barengus 

111 Pomolobus cbrysocbloris 

112 P. mediocris 

113 P. psendobarengus 

114 P. cy auonoton 

115 Alosa sapidissima 

116 Harengula sp 

117 Opistbonema oglinum 

118 Brevoortia tyrannus 

119 Stolepborus brownii 

120 S. argyropbanus 

121 S. perfasciatus 

122 S. rnitcbilli 

123 Coregorms qnadrilateralis 

124 C. clupeiformis 

125 Argvrosoruus osraeriformis 

126 A. nrtedi 

127 A. boyi 

128 A. prognatbus 

129 A. tullibee 

130 Oncorbyncbus cbouicba 

131 Salrno salar 

132 S. salar sebago 

133 S. bensbawi 

134 S. gairdneri _ 

135 S. fario 

136 S. trntta levenensis 

137 S. irideus 

138 S. lernanus 

139 Cristivomer namaycusb 

140 Salvelinus fontinalis 1 

141 S. alpinus 2 .. 

142 S. alpinus anreolus 3 

143 Osmerus mordax 

144 Synodus f oetens 

145 Umbra limi 

146 U. pygmaea 4 

147 Lucius arcericanus 

148 L. vermiculatus 

149 L. reticularis 1 

150 L. lucius 

151 L. masquinongy 

1 Recorded also from the Walkill and Passaic. 

2 Introduced into Sterling lake. 

3 Introduced into Lake George. 

4 Recorded from the Passaic and Hackensack. 



'42 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Recorded distribution of New York fishes (continued) 



152 L. m. opbiensis (Kirt.) 

153 Fuudulus rnajalis 

154 F. heteroclitus 

155 F. diaphanus 1 

156 Lucania parva 

157 Cypriaodon variegatus 

158 Tylosurus marinus 

159 T. raphidoma 

160 T. acus 

161 Hyporhainphus roberti 

162 Euleptorbampnus velox 

163 Scomberesox saurns 

164 Exocoetns volitans 

165 Cypsilurus heterurus 

166 C. fnrcatns 

167 C. gibbifrons 

168 Eucalia inconstans 

169 E. incoDStans cayuga 

170 Pygosteus pungitius 1 

171 Gasterosteus bispinosus 

172 Apeltes quadracus 

173 Fistularia tabaccaria 

174 Sipbostoina fuscum 

175 Hippocampus budsoDius 

176 Percopsis guttatus 

177 Apbredoderus sayanus 

178 Menidia gracilis 

179 M. beryllina 

180 M. notata 

181 Kirtlandia vagrans 

182 Labidestbes sicculus 

183 Mugil cepbalus 

184 M. curema 

185 M. tricbodon 

186 Syphraena guacbancbo 

187 S. borealis 

188 Polydactylns octoDeraus 

189 Ammodytes americanus 

190 Mullus anratus 

191 Scomber scombrus , 

192 S. colias 

193 Auxis thazard 

194 Gymnosarda pelamis 

195 G. alleterata 

196 Tbunrms tbynnus 

197 Sarda sarda 

198 Sconiberomorns maculatus 

199 S. regalis 

200 S. cavalla 

201 Tricbiurus lepturus 

202 Istiopborus nigricans 

203 Tetrapturus imperator 

Recorded also from the Pansaic and HackHDsack. 



2 - 



x? 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



743 



Recorded distribution, of New York fishes (continued) 





«0 
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a 

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5 


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OS 
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05 

M 
o 

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12 

o 

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a 
'a 

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03 


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03 

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03 

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43 
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a 

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a 

03 

£ 

09 

a 

m 

a 
o 


© 

a 

03 
§ 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


00 

a 
o 

a 

2 

03 

a 
< 


204 Xiphias gladius 






205 Oligoplites saurns. . . 
























206 Naucrates ductor 
























207 Seriola zonata 
























208 S. lalandi 
























209 Elagatis bipinnulatus.. '. .... 
























210 Decapterus punctatus.. .. 
























211 D. macarellus 
























212 Trachurns tracliurus . .. 
























213 Trachuropscrumenopbthalmus.. 
























214 Caranx hippos 
























215 C. crysos . .. 
























216 Alectis ciliaris 
























217 Vomer ?etipinnis ...... .. 
























218 Selene vomer ... .. 
























219 Chloroscombrus cbrysurus 
























220 Trachinotus falcatus 
























221 T. argenteus 
























222 T. earolinus 
























223 Poniatomus saltatrix 


















X 
X 


... 




224 Rachyceutron canadum 




















225 Corypbaena bippurus 




















226 C. equisetis 
























227 Palinurichthys perciformis . 
























228 Rhombus paru . 
























229 R. triacaritbns 
























230 Pomoxis annularis. . . 


X 
X 






















231 P. sparoides .. 


X 






















232 Acantharchus pomotis * 






















233 Ambloplites rupestris 2 


X 


X 


X 


... 


X 


X 








X 






234 Chaenobryttus gulosus 










235 Enneacanthus obesus 1 . .... . 


























236 E. gloriosus 3 


























237 Apomotis cy anellus 


X 


X 






















238 Lepomis auritus 














X 
X 








239 L. pallidus 


X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


X 
X 
X 


X 
X 
X 
X 

x 


X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


X 
X 


X 
X 


X 
X 






240 Eupomotis gibbosus 4 

241 Micropterus dolomieu 5 

242 M. salmoides 6 




243 Stizostedion vitreum 




244 S. eanadense..... 










245 S. eanadense griseum 
















216 Perca flavescens 7 


X 




X 


X 


















248 P. caprodes zebra 


X 
X 


... 














249 Hadropterus aspro 




















250 Cottogaster copelandi .. . 
























251 C. cheneyi 




X 








.--' 









1 Recorded in the Haekensack. 

2 Introduced into the Passaic and Long Island waters. 

3 Recorded from Long pond, Hudson Highlands. 

4 Recorded also from the Walkill, Passaic and Haekensack. 

5 Introduced into the Passaic. 

6 Recorded from the Walkill, Passaic and Bronx. 

7 Recorded from the Passaic and Haekensack. 



744 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Recorded distribution of New York fishes (continued) 





09 
A* 

© 


<B 

as 
.2 

'C 

05 

a 


© 
o 

a 
9 

% 
a 

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05 

© 

03 

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u 

•S 

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.s 

is 

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3 

03 

X3 

o 

CD 
03 


a 

a 

Xi 
O 

IS 

o 


a 
a 

cj 

p 
a 

es 
® 

a 

tn 

3 


a 
"5 

C3 

X* 
© 


a 

es 
X> 
3 
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(13 
T3 
13 

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a 

03 
9 

03 

J5 

p 
o 


© 

a 

3 

3 


a 
o 

a 

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03 
oj 

a 

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252 Diplesion blenniodes . 




253 Boleosoma nigrum 


X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
























254 B. nioTuin olmstedi 1 


X 


X 




X 










X 


-.-■ 




255 Etheostoma coeruleum 


X 
X 










255^- E. boreale 


X 


X 
X 


















256 E. flabellare 2 




257 Boleichthys f usiforruis 

258 B. fusiformis eos 




































259 Roccns chr^ sops 3 










X 














260 R. lineatus 




X 






X 


X 


X 

X 


X 
X 


X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 

± 

X 
X 
X 
X 

x 




261 Morone americaDa 














262 Polvprionamericanus . ._ 




















263 Eoiuephelus niveatus 
























264 Centropristes striatus 
























265 Dules auriga 
























266 Rypticus bistrispinus 
























267 Lobotes surinamensis ..... 
























268 Priacanthus arenatus 
























269 Pseudopriacauihus altus 
























270 Neonjaenis griseus 
























271 N. black ford i 
























272 Orthoprislis cbrysopterus 
























273 Scenotomus cbrysops 
























274 Lagodon rhotuboides 






















X 




275 Arcbosargus probatocepbalus.. 

276 Euciuostomus gula 






















X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 




277 Kypbosus sectatrix 
























278 Cyuosciou regalis 
























279 C. nebulosus 
























280 Larimus fasciatus 
























281 Baiidiella cbrysura 
























282 ISciaeiiops ocellatus . . 






















X 
X 




283 Leiostonms xauthurus 
























284 Micropogon uudulatus 






















X 




285 Meuticiirbus saxatilis 






















X 




286 Pogonias eromis 






















X 




287 Aplodinotus grunniens 

288 Tautogolabrus adspersus 


X 








X 
































X 
X 




289 Tautoga onitis 
























290 Zenopsis ocellatus. .. 






















X 

X 




291 Cbaetodipterus faber.. 






















292 Cbaetodon ocellatus 


1 




















X 




293 Ten this bepat.ns 






















X 




294 Balistes carolinensis 






















X 
X 
X 
X 
X 




295 B. vettila 


1 




1 


















296 Monacantbus bispidns 
























297 Alntera scboepni.. 
























•298 Lactopbrys trigouus 
























299 Laj^ocepbalus laevigatas 






















X 
X 
X 




300 Spheroides maculatus . 
























301 S. testudineus 

























Recorded from the Passaic, Hack en sack and Bronx. 
Recorded from the Hackensack. 
Introduced into Greenwood lake. 



FISHES OF NEW YORK 



745 



Recorded distribution of New York fishes (continued) 



\ 


00 

© 

OS 

1 


8 

cs 

o 

•a 

© 

a 

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93 

o 

§ 

% 


M 

o 

03 

a 
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3 

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03 


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a 

03 

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a 

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03 

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02 


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05 

a 

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s 

bfi 

a 
© 


© 

03 


o» 

© 

a 

© 

a 

a 
<4 


302 S. trichocephalus 






















X 
X 
X 




























304 Chilomycterus scboep6i 
























305 C. f uli^iuosus 






















X 
X 
X 
X 




306 Mola ruola 
















































308 Helicolenus dactylopterus. .. 
























309 Cottus ictalops 


X 


X 


X 
X 


X 


X 


X 


























311 U. formosa _ -. 




X 














312 Myoxocepbalus aeneus 




















X 
X 
X 




313 M. octodecim-spinosus - 
























314 M. groenlandicus 
























315 Triglopsis tbompsom 

316 Hemitripterus americanus 


X 










































X 




317 Aspidophoroides monopterygius 

318 Cycloptprus luiupus 






















X 
























X 
X 

X 
X 
X 




319 Neoliparis atlanticus 
























320 Liparis lipari s 
























321 Gobiosoma bosci . ". 
























322 Astroscopus guttatus 
























323 Opsanus tan 






















X 




324 Blennius f ucorum 


























325 Chasmodes bosquiauus. .... 






















X 




326 Pbolis gunnellus. 














J-- 






X 




327 Ulvaria subbifurcata 






















X 
X 




328 Stichaeus punctatus 
























329 Lumpeuus lampetraeformis 






















X 
X 
X 




330 Cryptacan t bodes maculatus 
























331 Anarbichas lupus 














































333 Rissola marginata 






















X 
X 

X 
X 

X 




334 Prionotuis carolinus 
























335 P. strigatus 
























336 P. tribulus 
























337 Trigla cuculus 
























338 Cepbalacantbus volitans 






















X 
X 
X 




339 Echeneis naucrates 
























340 E. uaucrateoides 
























341 Remora remora ... 
























342 R. bracbyptera . .. 






















X 
X 
X 
X 
X 

X 




















































345 Pollaebius sirens .„„ 










































X 


... 
























348 Melanogrammus aeglifinus 
























349 Lota maculosa.. 


X 


X 


X 


... 


X 


























X 
X 
X 
X 
X 




351 U. tenuis 
























352 U. cbuss: 
























353 Gaidropsarus argentatus 
























354 G. ensis. 

























2 Kecoided also in the Hackensack and Passaic. 



'46 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Jlecorded. distrilmtion 


of New York: fislies 


(concluded) 










00 

i 


s 

•a 

<x> 

s 


© 

§ 


03 

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© 

a 

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"3 
'ft 

a 

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CD 

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'3 

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O 


eS 

rO 
C8 

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03 

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CO 

g 

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13 

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1 

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fee 

n 

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S 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 


05 

=5 
o 

a 

o 
u 

< 


355 Rhinon emus cinibri us .. ..... 






















356 Brosraius brosme 
























357 Coelorbyncbns carrnmatus. 
























358 Hippoglossus bippoglossus 
























359 Hippoglossoides platessoides... 
























360 Paralicbtby s dentatus 
























361 P. lethostigina 
























362 P. oblongus 
























363 Lopbopsetta maculata. .. ... 
























364 Etropus nricrostomus ........ 
























365 Limand a ferruginea ...: 
























366 Pseudopleuronectes americanus . 
























367 Platopbrys ocellatus 
























368 Acbirns fasciatus * 


















X 


X 


X 


369 Lopbius piscatorius 




















370 Pteropbryne bistrio 
























371 Ogcocepbalus vespertilio ...... . 

















































Eecorded also from the Kackensack. 



INDEX 



Abramis, 132-34 

americanus, 132 

chrysoleucas roseus, 134 

crysoleucas, 132-34 

Smithii, see Cyprinus (Abramis?) 
Smithii 

versicolor, 132 
Acadian bullhead, 646 
Acantharchus, 464-66 

poinotis, 464-66 
Acantbias americanus, 43 

vulgaris, 43 
Acanthocottus, 639-44 

aeneus, 639 

anceps, see Cottus (Acanthocottus) 
anceps 

groenlandicus, 643 

octodecimspinosus, 641 

variabilis, 643 

virginianus, 641 
Acanthopteri, 351-608 
Acanthosoma carinatum, 629 
Acanthurus chirurgus, 607 

nigricans, 607 

phlebotomus, 607 
Acara aya, 554 
Achigan, 487 
Achirus, 731-33 

fasciatus, 732-33 

lineatus, 732 

mollis, 732 
Acipenser, 63-69 

brevirostris, 68 

brevirostrum, 68-69 

maculosus, 66 

oxyrinchus, 64 

rubicundus, 66-67 

sturio, 63-65 
var. oxyrrhynchus, 64 
Acipense'ridae, 63-69 
Aelurichthys marinus, 77 
Agonidae, 647-49 
Agoninae, 647-49 



Albula, 181-83 

conorhynchus, 182 

erythrocheilos, 182 

Parrae, 182 

vulpes, 182-83 
Albulidae, 181-83 
Alburnellus amoenus, 150 

rubrifrons, 149, 150 
Alburnops blennius, 138 

heterodon, 137 
Alburnus rubellus, 147 

rubrifrons, 149 
Aleby trout, 702 
Alectis, 431-33 

ciliaris, 432-33 

crinitus, 432 
Alewife, 5, 199-201, 441 

river, 192 
Alligator, 71 
Alligator gar, 71 
Alopecias vulpes, 33 
Alopias, 32-34 

vulpes, 33-34 
Alopiidae, 32-34 
Alosa, 203-8 

alosa, 204 

chrysochloris, 195 

cyanonoton, 202 

lineata, 197 

mattowaca, 197 

menhaden, 211 

praestabilis, 204 

sapidissima, 204-8 

teres, 189 

tyrannus. 199 
Alutera, 613-15 

schoepffi, 613 

schoepfii, 613-15 
Aluteres cuspicauda, 613 
Alvordius, 507-9 

aspro, 507 
Amber fish, 416-18 
Amber jack, 418 



'48 



NEW YORK STATE) MUSEUM 



Amblodon grumiiens, 590 

neglectus, 590 
Ambloplites, 466-70 

rupestris, 467-70 
Aineiurus, 81-90 

catus, 85-86 # 

lacustris, 81-83 

melas, 90 

natalis, 84 

nebulosus, 85, 87-89 
marmoratus, 89 

vulgaris, 84-85 
American angler, 735 
American cod, 699 
American codling, 706 
American hake, 692 
American shad, 204 
American sole, 732-33 
Ainia, 73-76 

calva, 74-76 

occidentalis, 74 
Amiidae, 73-76 
Amiurus albidus, SC 

borealis, 81 

catus, 87 

cauda-furcatus, SO 

dekayi, 84 

marmoratus, 87, 89 

natalis, 84 

nigricans, 82 

ponderosus, 82 

pullus, 90 

vulgaris, 84 
Ammocoetes branchialis, 10 

concolor, 14 

niger, 16 

unicolor, 13 
Ammodytes, 375-77 

americanus, 376-77 

vittatus, 376 
Ammodytidae, 375-77 
Ammodytoidei, 375-77 
Amphiodon alosoides, 185 
?Amphiprion americanus, 532 
Anacanthini, 691-714 
Anarhichadidae, 672-74 
Anarhichas, 672-74 

lupus, 673-74 

vomerinus, 673 



Anchovies, 213-19, 359 

banded, 217-18 

silvery, 216-17 

striped, 214-15 
Angel fish, 45-46, 57, 602-4- 
Angel sharks, 45-46 
Angler, 734-35 

American, 735 

marbled, 737 
Anguilla, 169-74 

blephura, 170 

bostoniensis, 170 

chrisypa, 170 

chrysypa, 170-74 

conger, 175 

macrocephala, 170 

oceanica, 175 

rostrata, 170 

tenuirostris, 170 

tyrannus, 170 

vulgaris, 170 
Anguillidae, 169--74 
Antennariidae, 735-37 
Antennarius histrio, 736 
Apeltes, 342-44' 

quadracus, 342-44 
Aphredoderidae, 352-54 
Aphredoderus, 352-54 

gibbosus, 353 

sayanus, 353-54 
Aplodinotus, 590-92 

grunniens, 590-92 
Apodes, 169-77 >. 
Apomotis, 475-77 

cyanellus, 475-77 
Aprionodon, 28-29 

isodon, 28-29 

punctatus, 28 
Archosargus, 561, 562-65, 563-65- 

probatocephalus, 563-65 
Argentinidae, 282-85 
Argyreiose, hairfinned, 436 
Argyreiosus capillaris, 435 

setipinnis, 433 

vomer, 435 
Argyreus atronasus, 154 

nasutus, 152 
Argyriosus vomer, 435 



INDEX TO FISHES OF XEW YORK 



'4$ 



Argyrosornus, 230-41 

artedi, 233-35, 241 

hoyi, 235-37, 237, 241 

osmeriformis, 230-33, 241 

prognathus, 237-38, 241 

tullibee, 238-41 
Argyrotaenia vittata, 376 
Arius equestris, 78 

felis, 78 

milberti, 78 
Aspidophoroides, 647-49 

rnonopterygius, 648-49 
Aspidophorus rnonopterygius, 648 
Asterospondyli, 17-43 
Astroscopus, 658-60 

anoplus, 658 

guttatus, 658-60 
Atberina brownii, 214 

menidia, 357 

mordax, 282 

notata, 357 

viridescens, 357 
Atherinichthys gracilis, 355 

menidia, 357 

notata, 357 
Atberinidae, 354-62 
Atberinopsis notatus, 357 
Atlantic salmon, 244-48 
Autumnal herring, 197 
Auxis, 383-85 

rocbei, 384 

tbazard, 384-85 

vulgaris, 384 
Aya, 9, 554 

Bachelor, 460 
Bachf orelle, 255 
Baione fontinalis, 272 
Bairdiella, 576-78 

chrysura, 576-78 
Bait-stealer, 595 
Balaos, 323-27 
Balistes, 608-11 

aurantiacus, 613 

broccus, 611 

capriscus, 608 

carolinensis, 608-10 

cuspicauda, 613 

fuligi.nosus, 608 

hispidus, 611 



Balistes (continued) 

schoepfii, 613 

vetula, 610-11 
Balistidae, 608-11 
Balloonfisb, spot-striped, 628 

unspotted, 628-29 
Banana fish, 182-83 
Banded anchovy, 217-18 
Banded blenny, 644-65 
Banded dace, 146 
Banded drum, 589 
Banded Ephippus, 603 
Banded garfish, 318 
Banded gurnard, 680 
Banded larimus, 575 
Banded mummichog, 309 
Banded pickerel, 292-94 
Banded pilot, 415 
Banded rudder fish, 414-16, 428-29> 
Banded sucker, 104 
Banded sunfish, 471-73 
Bank lake bass, 462 
Barfisb, 463 
Barndoor skate, 50-51 
Barracuda, 368-73 

long, 369-70 

northern, 371-73 
Barred killifish, 311, 312 
Barred maskalonge, 304-7 
Basking shark, 41-43 
Bass, bank lake, 462 

bayou, 491 

big, 487 

big-fin, 462 

black, 537 

brown, 487 

calico, 462-64 

channel, 578-80 

dark, 487 

gold, 487 

grass, 462, 463 

green, 491 

hog, 488 

lake, 462, 468, 487 

Lake Erie, 462, 463 

large-mouthed black, 490-93 

little, 488 

minny, 487 

moss, 491 

Oswego, 491, 492 



'50 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Bass (continued) 

Otsego, 225 

river, 491 

rock. 467-70, 537 

ruddy, 529 

sea, 522-42 

silver, 185, 462, 523 

small mouthed black, 486-90 

spotted, 487, 580 

stone, 532 

strawberry, 462-64 

streaked, 525 

striped, 523, 524-27 

striped sea, 525 

white, 522-23 

yellow, 487 ■'■] 

Bass fry, 309 
Bass killy, 307-9 
Bass mummy, 309 
Bass sunfish, 466 
Basse, striped, 525 
Bat fishes, 737-38 
Batoidei, 46-60 
Batrachoididae, 660-62 
Batrachus celatus, 661 

tau, 661 
Bayou bass, 491 
Bellows fish, 734-35 
Belone caribbaea, 322 

crassa, 319 

gerania, 319 

.jonesi, 322 ■ . 

latimana, 322 

melanochira, 319 

raphidoma, 319 

truncata, 317 
Bengal, 595 
Bergall, 593-96 

spotted, 596 
Bermuda chub, 568-69 
Bermuda whiting, 586 
Berycoidei, 377-79 
Bessy corka, 610-11 
Bigeye, 544-45 

short, 546-47 
Big-eyed herring, 199 
Big-eyed scad, 426-27 
Big-fin bass, 462 
Big-mouthed cat, 86 
Billed eel, 318, 348 



Billfish, 61, 70-72, 317-19, 349, 405-7 
Bitter head, 463 
Black bass, 537 

large-mouthed, 490-93 

small-mouthed, 486-90 
Black bullhead, 90 
Black croppie, 463 
Black drum, 589 
Black grunt, 543 
Black lamprey, small, 16-17 
Black mullet, 586 
Black-nosed dace, 5, 154-56 
Black-nosed sucker, 108 
Black perch, 488, 529, 537 
Black pilot, 454-55 
Black pollack, 694 
Black salmon, 267 
Black sea bass, 537 
Black-sided darter, 507-9 
Black sucker, 104 
Black will, 537 
Blackfin whitefish, 228 
Blackfish, 536-39, 597-99 
Blackharry, 537 
Blackhead minnow, 118-19 
Blennies, 662-65 

banded, 664-65 

eel, 670-71 

seaweed, 663-64 

snake, 671 

spotted, 668-69 
Blenniidae, 662-65 
Blennioidei, 662-74 
Blennius, 662-64 , 

anguillaris, 674 

bos qui anus, 664 

chuss, 707 

ciliatus, 674 

fucorum, 663-64 

gunnellus, 665 

labrosus, 674 

lampetraeformis, 670 

oceanicus, 663 

pholis, 664 

punctatus, 668 

regius, 704 

serpentinus, 670 
Blenny darter, 508 
Blennylike fishes, 662-74 
Blepharichthys crinitus, 432 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



Blepharis crinitus, 432 
Bloater, 237-38 
Blob, 635-37 
Bloody stickleback, 343 
Blower, 621 
Blowfish, 622-24 

hairy, 624 
Blue bream, 482 
Blue cat, 80 

great, 82 
Blue darter, 517-18 
Blue herring, 195-96 
Blue Johnny, 518 
Blue perch, 595 
Blue pike, 303, 494, 497 
Blue shark, 39 

great, 25 
Blue snapper, 446 
Blue-spotted sunfish, 473-75, 477 
Blue-striped trigger fish, 610-11 
Blue sunfish, 480-82 
Blueback, 202-3 
Bluefin, 228 

Bluefish, 445-48, 537, 571, 595 
Bluegill, 480-82 
Blunt jaw, 117 
Blunt-nosed minnow, 120-21 
Blunt-nosed shiner, 434 
Bodianus argyroleucus, 576 

aya, 554 

bistrispinus, 541 

costatus, 583 

flaYescens, 500 

rufus, 528 

rupestris, 467 

triurus, 542 
Boleichthys, 520-21 

eos, 521 

fusiformis, 520-21 
eos, 521 
Boleosoma, 513-16 

fusiformis, 520 

maculatum, 513 

nigrum, 513-14 
olmstedi, 514-16 

olmstedi, 514 

tesselatum, 509, 514 
Bone fish, 182-83 
Bone shark, 43 



Bonito, 393-95 

oceanic, 386-88 
Bonnet skate, 48 
Bonnethead, 30-31 
Bony fishes, 76-212 
Bony gar, 71 
Bony pike, 71 
Bony-scaled pike, 6 
Bony sturgeon, 66 
Bothrolaemus, 439 

p amp anus, 443 
Bothus, 723 

maculatus, 723 
Bowfins, 73-76 
Boxfish, spiny, 626-28 
Brail, 719 

Branch herring, 199-201 
Branded drum, 580 
Brassy sculpin, 639-41 
Brazen bullhead, 640 
Bream, 133, 4S4 

blue, 482 

copper-nosed, 482 

salt water, 562 
Brevoortia, 211-13 

tyrannus, 211-13 
Bridge perch, 460, 487 
Bridled minnow, 135-36 
Brier ray, 49-50 
Bristly dory, 434 
Broad shiner, cryptous, 458- 
Brochet 299 
Bronze backer, 488 
Brook lamprey, 16 
Brook minnow, 154-56 
Brook silversides, 361-62 
Brook ( stickleback, 335-37 
Brook sucker. 101 
Brook trout. 6, 255, 272-75 
Brosme, 711-12 

brosme, 711-12 
Brosmius brosme, 711 

flavescens, 7.11 

vulgaris?, 711 
Brotula. 676 
Brown bass, 487 
Brown catfish, 90 
Brown tomcod, 696 
Brown trout, 254-57, 4SS 



752 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Bryttus fasciatus, 471 

gloriosus, 473 

longulus, 475 
Buffalo fish, 71 
OBugfish, 212 
Bullhead, 87-89, 636. 642 

Acadian, 646 

black, 90 

brazen, 640 

smooth browed, 640 
Bullhead shark, little, 46 
Bullpout, 87 , 
Bumper, 437-38 
Bunker, 212 
Burbot, 701-4 
Burfish, 626-29 
Burn stickle, 341 
Butirinus vulpes, 182 
Butter chub, 163 
Butterfish, 444, 457-59, 665-66 

humpbacked, 434 
Butterfly fishes, 604-6, 678 
Butterfly ray, 56-57 

Calico bass, 462-64 
Calico flounder, 733 
Calico sole, 732 
Calliurus formosus, 475 

longulus, 475 
Campbellite, 460 
Campostoma, 112-14 

anomalum, 113-14 

dubium, 113 
Cantharus nigromaculatus, 462 
Capelin, 359 
Capriscus, 608-10 
Carangidae, 410-44 
Carangus hippos, 428 
Caranx, 427-31 

carangus, 428 

chrysos, 430 

chrysus, 430 

crumenophthalmus, 426 

crysos, 430-31 

defensor, 428 

hippos, 428-29 

hippus, 428 

macarellus, 423 

pisquetus, 430 

punctatus, 421 



Caranx (continued) 

spotted, 422 

sutor, 432 

trachurus, 425 

yellow, 429 
Carassius, 164-66 

auratus, 164-66 
Carcharias, 34-37 

americanus, 34 

atwoodi, 40 

caeruleus, 26 

glaucUs, 25 

(Prionodon) glaucus, 25 

isodon, 28 

(Aprionodon) isodon, 28 

littoralis, 34-37 

(Prionodon) milberti, 26 

obscurus, 25 

(Prionodon) obscurus, 25 

punctatus, 28 

terrae-novae, 29 

(Scoliodon) terrae-novae, 29 

vulpes, 33 
Carcharidae, 34-37 
Carcharinus, 25-28 

glaucus, 25 

milberti, 26-28 

obscurus, 25-26 
Carcharodon, 40-41 

carcharias. 40-41 
Cardonniera, 634 
Carp, 112-69 

golden, 165 

lake, 98 

leather, 168 

mirror, 167 

scale, 167 
Carpe blanche, 101 
Carpiodes, 97-98 

thompsoni, 98 
Carplike fishes, 97-169 
Casabe, 437-38 
Catalufas, 544-77 
Catfishes, 76-97 

big-mouthed, 86 * 

blue, 80 

brown, 90 

channel, 80-81, 85-86 

chubby. 84 

common, 87 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



753 



Catfishes (continued) 

flannel-mouth, 82 

Florida, 82 

great blue, 82 

great fork-tailed, 82 

lake, 81-83 

long-jawed, 84-85 

marbled, 89 

Mississippi, 82 

mud, 82 

Schuylkill, 86 

sea, 77-78, 78-79 

silver, 80 

spoonbill, 61-63 

spotted, 80-81 

stone cat, 91-92, 93-94 

white, 80, 85-86 

yellow, 84 
Catonotns fasciatus, 518 

flabellatus, 518 
Catostomidae, 97-112 
Catostomus, 99-104 

anisurus, 109 

aureolas, 110 

carpio, 109 

catostomus, 99-101 

commersoni, 101 

commersonii, 101-3 

communis, 101 

cyprinus, 98 

duquesnii, 110 

fasciatus, 108 

hudsonius, 99 

longirostris, 99 

melanops, 108 

nanomyzon, 99 

nigricans, 103-4 

oneida, 110 

pallidus, 101 

sucetta. 105 

teres. 101 

tuberculatus, 105 
Cavalla, 401 
Oayuga lake shad, 200 
Oayuga lake sticklebacks, 337 
€entrarchidae, 459-93 
Centrarchus aeneus, 467 

gulosus, 470 

hexacanthus, 462 

pomotis, 464 

viridis, 470 



Centrolophidae, 454-55 
Centronotus gunnellus, 065 

spinosus, 449 
Centropristes, 535-39 

atrarius, 536 

nigricans, 536 

striatus, 536-39 
Cephalacanthidae, 683-85 
Cephalacanthus, 683-85 

splnarella, 684 

volitans, 684-85 
Cephalus brevis, 629 
Ceratacanthus, 613-15 
Ceratichthys biguttatus, 159 

cataractae, 152 

dissimilis, 157 

lucens, 158 

micropogon, 159 

plumbeus, 161 

prosthemius, 161 
Cernier, 532 
Cero, 398-400 

spotted, 400 
Cetorhinidae, 41-43 
Cetorhinus, 41-43 

maximus, 42-43 
Chaenobrytus, 470-71 

antistius, 470 

gulosus, 470-71 
Chaetodipterus, 601-4 

faber, 602-4 
Chaetodon, 604-6 

alepidotus, 456 

bimaculatus, 604 

faber, 602 

maculocinctus, 605 

ocellatus, 604-6 

oviformis, 602 

sheepshead, 603 
Chaetodontidae, 604-6 
Ohaetodontops, 604-6 
Chain pickerel, 6, 296-98 
Channel bass, 578-80 
Channel cat, 80-81, 85-86 
Chasmodes, 664-65 

boscianus, 664 

bosquianus, 664-65 
Chatoessus cepedianus, 187 

ellipticus, 187 

signifer, 209 



754 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 






Checouts. 571 
Cheilichthys, 622-24 
Chelidonichthys, 682-83 
Chickwick, 571 
Chilomycterus, 626-29 

fuliginosus, 628-29 

geometricus, 626, 629 

subsp. (?) fuliginosus, 628 
schoepfi, 626 28 
Chinook salmon, 241-44 
Chinquapin perch, 460, 463 
Chironectes laevigatus, 736 
Chirostoma beryllinum, 356 

notatum, 357 

sicculum, 361 

vagrans, 359 
Chivey, 221 
Chivin, 122-23 
Chloroscombrus, 436-38 

caribbaeus, 437 

chrysurus, 437-38 
Chog-munimy, 310 
Chogset, 593-96 
Chondrostei, 63-69 
Chonerhinidae, 618 
Chorinernus occidentalis, 410 
Chrosomus, 114-16 

erythrogaster, 114-16 
Chub, 123-26, 163, 491, 582, 598 

Bermuda, 568-69 

butter, 163 

day, 163 

horned, 159-60 

Indian, 160 

lake, lei-^ 

nigger, 160, 162-64 

river, 159-60 

salt-water, 598 

silver, 122-23 
Chub eel, 702 
Chub mackerel, 381-83 
Chub sucker, 105-7 

northern, 106 
Chubby cat, 84 
Cichla aenea, 467 
Cigar fish, 287 
Ciliata argentata, 708 
Circharra, 427 
Cirrimens, 584 



Cisco, 180, 233-35, 241 

mooneye, 235-37 
Citharichthys, 724 

microstomus, 725 
Clear-nosed skate, 49-50 
Clinostomus, 128-29 

margarita, 130 
Clinus punctatus, 668 
Cliola analostana, 144 

hudsonia, 140 

procne, 139 

storeriana, 142, 158 

whipplei, 144 
Clupea, 192-94 

aestivalis, 202 

alosa, 204 

chrysochloris, 195 

coerulea, 192 

cyanonoton, 9 

elongata, 192 

halec, 192 

harengus, 192-94 

heterurus, 187 

hudsonia, 140 

mattowaca, 197 

mediocris, 197 

menhaden, 211 

pseudoharengus, 199 

pusilla, 192 

sadina, 190-91 

sapidissima, 204 

tyrannus, 211 

vernalis, 199 

virescens, 197 

vittata, 214 
Clupeldae, 188-219 
Coachman, 539-40 
Coalfish, 694 
Cobbler, 310 
Cobblerfish, 432-33 
Cobia, 449-50 
Cobitis heteroclita, 309 

majalis, 307 
Cock-paddle, 651 
Cod, 698-99 

American, 699 

common, 699 

fresh-water, 702 

rock, 699 
Codfishes, 693-712 



XDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



too 



Codling, 706, 707 

American, 706 , 

spotted, 704-5 
Coelocephalus, 712 
Coelorhynchus, 712-11 

carminatus, 713-14 
Conger eels, 174-77 
Conger niger, 175 

oecidentalis, 175 

vulgaris, 175 
Copelandia, 471 
Copeland's darter, 509-10 
Copper-nosed bream, 482 
Coregonus, 220-30 

albus, 224 

artedi, 233 

clupeiformis, 224-30, 233, 240 

harengus, 233 

hoyi, 230, 236 

labradoricus, 9, 224 

latior, 224 

novae angliae, 221 

osmeriformis, 230 

prognathus, 237 

quadrilateralis, 221-24, 240 

sapidissimus, 224 

tullibee, 239 
Cornet fishes, 344-46 
Corvina argyroleuca, 576 

ocellata, 578 

oscula, 590 
Coryphaena, 450-54 

equisetis, 452-54 

globiceps, 451 

hippuris, 451 

hippurus, 451-52 

perciformis, 454 

punctulata, 452 

sueuri, 451 

sueurii, 451 
Coryphaenidae, 450-54 
Cottidae, 635-47 
Cottinae, 635-47 
Cottogaster, 509-11 

cheneyi, 510-11 

copelandi, 509-10 

putnami, 509, 510 
Cottus, 635-37 

aeneus, 639 

(Acanthocottus) anceps, 639 



Cottus (continued) 

Bairdii, 635 

formosus, 638 

gracilis, 637 

groenlandicus, 642 

hispidus, 646 

ictalops, 635-37 
bairdi, 636 

mitcbilli, 639 

monopterygius, 648 

octodecimspinosus, 641 

Richardsoni, 635 

scorpio, 639 

scorpius groenlandicus, 643 

virginianus, 641 
Coucbia argentata, 708 
Couesius, 160-62 

dissimilis, 161 

plumbeus, 161-62 

prosthemius, 161 
Cover, 732 
Cover clip, 732 
Cow-nosed ray, 59-60 
Crab-eater, 449-50 
Cramp fisb, 51-52 
Cranberry, mountain, 85 
Craniomi, 676-85 
Crappie, 459-62 
Crawl-a-bottom, 104, 505 
Creek cbub, 125 
Creek fisb, 106-7 
Crevalles, 410-44 
Cristivomer, 266-71 

namaycusb, 266-71 
Croakers, 569-92 
Crocus, 591 
Croppie, black, 463 

lake, 463 

timber, 460 

white, 460 
Cryptacanthodes, 671-72 

maculatus, 671-72 
Cryptacanthodidae, 671-72 
Cryptous broad shiner, 458 
Ctenolabrus, 593 

adspersus, 593 

burgall, 593 

ceruleus, 593 

chogset, 593 

uninotatus, 593 



756 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Ouckold, 616-17 
Cuckoo fish, 678 
Cucumberfish, 626-28 
dinner, 593-96 
Cusk, 711-12 

lake, 702 

little, 676 
Cut-lips, 162-64 
Cutlas fishes, 402-3 
Cybium eaballa, 400 

cavalla, 400 

maculatum, 396 

regale, 398 
Cyclichthys, 626-29 
Cycloganoidea, 73-76 
Cyolopteridae, 649-52 
Cyclopterinae, 649-52 
Cyclopterus, 649-52 

coeruleus, 649 

liparis, 654 

lumpus, 649-52 
Cyclospondyli, 43-46 
Cylindrosteus, 72 
Cynoperca, 498-99 
Cynoscion, 569-74 

maculatum, 573 

nebulosus, 573-74 

regale, 570 

regalis, 570-73 
Cyprinella whipplii, 143 
Cyprinidae, 112-69 
Cyprinodon, 315-17 

parvus, 314 

variegatus, 315-17 
Cyprinus, 166-69 

atromaculatus, 123 

atronasus, 154 

auratus, 164 

bullaris, 122 \ 

carpio, 167-69 

catostomus, 99 

commersonnii, 101 

cornutus, 145 

corporalis, 122 

crysoleucas, 132 
hemiolus, 132 

idus, 131 

maxillingua, 162 
megalops, 145 

oblongus, 106 



Cyprinus (continued) 

(Abramis?) Smithii, 184 

sucetta, 105 

teres, 101 

tinea, 126 

vittatus, 154 
Cypselurus, 331-35 

furcatus, 333 

Dab, rusty, 727 

sand, 717, 726-27 
Dace, 122-23, 146 

banded, 146 

black-nosed, 5, 154-56 

horned, 123-26, 160 

long-nosed, 152-54 

mud, 288 

red-bellied, 114-16 
Dactylopterus volitans, 684 
Daddy sculpin, 642-44 
Dark bass, 487 
Darter, black-sided, 507-9 

blenny, 508 

blue, 517-18 

Cbpeland's, 509-10 

fantail, 518-20 

greensided, 512-13 

Johnny, 513-14 

manitou, 506-7 

rainbow, 517-18 

tessellated, 514-16 
Dasibatis hastata, 54 
Dasibatus centrum, 53 
Dasyatidae, 53-57 
Dasyatis, 53-56 

centrura, 53-54 

hastata, 54-55 

say, 55-56 
Dasybatis sayi, 55 
Day chub, 163 
Daylight, 724 
Decapterus, 420-24 

macarellus, 423-24 

punctatus, 421-22 
Deep water sculpin, 646 
Diodon carinatus, 629 

fuliginosus, 628 

hairy, 625 

hystrix, 626 

maculostriatus, 626 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



757 



"Diodon (continued) 

nigrolineatus, 626 

pilosus, 625 

rivulatus, 626 

schoepfi, 626 
Diodontidae, 624-29 
Diplesion, 511-13 

blennioides, 512-13 
Diplodus argyrops, 558 

probatoeephalus, 563 

rhomboides, 561 
Dipterodon chrysurus, 576 
Discocephali, 686-90 
Distribution of New York fishes, 

739-46 
Doctor fish, 607 
Dog shark, 23 
Dogfishes, 43-45, 75, 288-89, 702 

horned, 44 

smooth, 23 

spined, 43-45 
Doliodon, 439 
Dollardee, 482 
Dollarfish, 434, 458 
Dolphin, 450-54 

common, 451-52 

small, 452-54 
Dor6, 495 
Dorosoma, 186-88 

cepedianum, 187-88 

notata, 187 
Dorosomidae, 186-88 
Dory, bristly, 434 

hair-finned, 436 

rostrated, 436 

spinous, 439 
Dotted scad, 422 
Drum, 98, 587-90, 591 

banded, 589 

big, 589 

black, 589 

fresh-water, 590-92 

red, 589 

young, 589 
Drummer, 571 
Duck-billed cat, 61 
Dules, 539-40 

auriga, 539-40 
Dusky shark, 25-26 
Dwarf salmon, 246 



Eagle rays, 57-60 
Eastern pickerel, 297 
Seattle, grande, 177-79 
Echeneididae, 686-90 
Echeneis, 686-88 

albacauda, 686 

albicauda, 686 

brachyptera, 689 

holbrooki, 687 

naucrateoides, 687-88 

naucrates, 686-87 

neucrates, 686 

osteochir, 690 

quatuordecimlaminatus, 689 

remora, 688 
Eel blenny, 670-71 
Eelpouts, 674, 702 
Eels, 169-77 

billed, 318, 348 

chub, 702 

conger, 174-77 

lamprey, 11-13, 67 

rock, 665-71 

sand, 376-77 

sea, 175-77 

true, 169-74 
Eggfish, 621 
Elacate atlantica, 449 

Canada, 449 

nigra, 449 
Elagatis, 418-20 

bipinnulatus, 419-20 

pinnulatus, 419 
Electric ray, 51-52 
Elephant shark, 42-43 
I Ellwhop, 199 
EUwife, 199 
! Elopidae, 177-80 
Elops, 179-80 

inermis, 179 

saurus, 179-80 
Emerald minnow, 147-49 
Emphycus, 705-8 
Enchelycephali, 169-77 
Enchelyopus, 710-11 

cimbrius, 710-11 
Engraulididae, 213-19 
Engraulis argyrophanus, 216 

brownii, 214 

mitchilli, 218 



758 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 




Engraulis {continued) 

perfasciatus, 217 

vittata, 214 

vittatus, 219 
Enneacanthus, 471-75 

eriarchus, 473 

gloriosus, 473-75 

obesus, 471-73 

simulans, 473 
Ephippidae, 601-4 
Ephippus, 602 

banded, 603 

f aber, 602 

gigas, 602 
Epinephelus, 533-35 

niveatus, 533-35 
Erimystax, 157 J 58 
Erimyzon, 104-7 

goodei, 105 

sucetta, 105-6 
oblongus, 106 7 
Esocidae, 317-23 
Esox affinis, 296 

amerieanus, 292 

boreus, 299 

crassus, 294 

cypbo, 294 

estor, 299 

fasciatus, 292 

flavulus, 307 

immaculatus, 304 

longirostris, 317 

lucius, 5, 298 

/? amerieanus, 292 

marinus, 317 

masquinongy, 302 
immaculatus, 304 

niger, 292 

nobilior, 302 

osseus, 6, 70 

ovinus, 316 

phaleratus, 296 

pisciculus, 309 

pisculentus, 309 

porosus, 294 
raveneli, 292 
reticulatus, 296 
salmoneus, 286, 294 
saurus, 327 
scomberius, 292 



Esox (continued) 

tridecemlineatus, 296 

umbrosus, 294 

vermiculatus, 294 

vulpes, 182 

zonatus, 307 
Eitheostoma, 516-20 

aspro, 507 

blennioides, 512 

(Diplesion) blennioides, 512 

caprodes, 505 

coerulea, 517 

coeruleum, 417-18 

flabellare, 518-20 

flabellaris, 518 

fusiforme, 520 

linsleyi, 518 

nigrum, 513 
olmstedi, 514 

olmstedi, 514 
Etropus, 724-26 

microstomus, 725-26 
Etrumeus, 189-91 

sadina, 8, 189 

teres, 189-91 
Eucalia, 335-37 

inconstans, 333-34, 336 
cayuga, 337 
Eucinostomus, 565-67 

argenteus, 566 

gula, 566-67 
Eugompbodus littoralis, 34 
Eulamia milberti, 26 
Euleptorhamphus, 325-27 

longirostris, 326 

velox, 326-27 
Eumesogrammus subbifurcatus, 667 
Eupomotis, 482-86 

aureus, 483 

gibbosus, 483-86 
Eutbynnus alliteratus, 389 

pelamys, 386 
Eventognatbi, 97-169 
Exoeoetidae, 330-35 
Exocoetus, 330-35 

affinis, 330 

comatus, 332 
exiliens, 330 

furcatus, 333, 335-37 
gibbifrons, 334-35 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



759 



Exocoetus (continued) 

heterurus, 331-32 

melanurus, 330 

noveboracensis, 332 

nuttalli, 333 

rubescens, 330 

volitans, 330-31 
Exoglossum, 162-64 

annulatum, 162 

dubium, 113 

(Hypentelium) rnacropterum, 103 

inaxillingua, 162-64 

nigrescens, 162 

vittatum, 162 

Tairmaid, 559. 562 
Fall herring, 197-98 
Fall shad. 197 
Fallfish, 122-23 

smaller, 125 
Fanegal, 634 
IFantail darter, 518-20 
Fantail mullet, 367-68 
Fario gairdneri, 252 

lemanus, 264 
Fatback, 364 
Fathead, 118-19 
Fathead minnow, 118 
Federation pike, 297 
Felichthys, 76-78 

marinus, 77-78 
Fiddlefish, 46 
Filefish, 611-15 

orange, 613-15 
Fishing frogs, 733-35 
Fistularia, 344-46 

neoboracensis, 345 

serrata, 345 

tabacaria, 345-46 
Fistulariidae, 344-46 
Flannel-mouth cat, 82 
Flasher, 542-43 
Flatfish, 714-33 

rusty, 727 

toothed, 719 
Florida cat, 82 
IFlounders, 714-31 

calico, 733 

fourspotted, 721-22 

oblong, 721 



Flounders (continued) 

rusty, 717 

sand, 724, 730-31 

small-mouthed, 725-26 

southern, 720-21 

spotted, 731 

summer, 717-20 

turbot, 719 

watery, 724 

winter, 727-29 
Fluke, 739 

Flying fishes, 330-35, 678, 680 
Flying gurnards, 683-85 
Flying robin, 684-85 
Fork-tailed cat, 82 
Four-bearded rockling, 710-11 
Fourspotted flounder, 721-22 
Fresh-water cod, 702 
Fresh-water drum, 590-92 
Fresh-water killy, 311-13 
Fresh-water salmon, 246 
Fresh-water silversides, 356-57 
Friar, 357-59 
Frigate mackerel, 384-85 
Frost fish, 221-24, 240, 692, 695-97 
Fundulus, 307-13 

diaphanus, 311-13 

fasciatus, 307 

fuscus, 289 

heteroclitus, 309-11 
macrolepidotus, 309 

majalis, 307-9 

multifasciatus, 311 

pisculentus, 309 

swampina, 311 

viridescens, 309 

zebra, 309 

Gadidae, 676, 693-712 
Gadus, 697-99 

aeglefinus, 699 

albidus, 691 

arenosus, 698 

brosme, 711 

callarias, 698 

cimbrius, 710 

compressus, 701 

lacustris, 81, 701 

longipes, 707 

maculosus, 701 






760 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Gadus (co n tinned) 

nierlucius, 691 

morhua, 698 

morrhua, 698-99 

prninosus, 695 

punctatus, 704 

purpureus, 693 

rupestris, 698 

tau, 661 

tenuis, 705 

tomcod, 695 

tomcodus, 695 

virens, 693 
Gaff topsail, 77-78 
Gaidropsarus, 708-10 

argentatus, 708-9 

ensis, 709-10 
Gairdner's trout, 252-54 
Galeichthys felis, 78 

marinus, 77 
Galeidae, 22-30 
Galeocerdo, 23-24 

tigrinus, 24 
Ganoid fishes, 60-76 
Ganoidei, 60-76 
Gar, alligator, 71 

bony, 71 

short-nosed, 72-73 

silver, 317-19 

soft, 318 
Gar pikes, 69-73 
Garfish, banded, 318 
Gascon, 425-26 
Gaspagie, 591 
Gaspereau, 200 
Gaspergou, 591 
Gasterosteidae, 335-44 
Gasterosteus, 340-42 

aculeatus, 340 

biaculeatus, 340 

bispinosus, 340-42 

canadus, 449 

carolinus, 443 

cataphractus, 341 

concinnus, 338 

ductor, 412 

inconstans. 335 

millepunctatus, 342 

nebulosus, 338 

neoboracensis, 340 



Gasterosteus (continued) 

occidentalis, 338 

pungitius, 338 

quadracus, 342 

saltatrix, 445 
Gerres argenteus, 566 

gula, 566. 
Gerridae, 565-67 
Ghostfish, 671-72 
Gizzard shads, 186-88 
Glasseye, 494 
Glassfish, 361-62 
Globefish, 622-24 
Glossodon harengoides, 1S4 
Glut herring, 9, 202-3 
Goatfish, 377-79 
Gobies, 656-58 

naked, 656-58 

variegated, 657 
Gobiidae, 656-58 
Gobiinae, 656-58 
Gobio cataractae, 152 

plumbeus, 161 
Gobioidei, 656-58 
Gobiosonia, 656-58 

alepidotum, 656 

bosci, 656-58 
Gobius alepidotus, 656 

bosei, 656 

viridi-pallidus, 657 

vividipallidus, 656 
Goggle-eye, 460, 463, 468, 470-71' 
Goggle-eye perch, 463 
Goggle-eyed jack, ,427 
Goggler, 426-27 
Gold bass, 487 
Gold nerfling, 131 
Gold shad, 195-96 
Golden carp, 165 
Golden ide, 131-32 
Golden mullet, 111 
Golden red horse, 111 
Golden shiner, 132-34 
Golden sucker, 111 
Golden trout, 278-82 
Goldfish, 164-66 
Goody, 582 
Goosefish, 734-35 
Grand-oranchee, 516 
Grass bass, 462, 463 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



761 



Grass pike, 300, 494 
Gray-back, 200 
Gray pike, 498, 499 
Gray snapper, 548-50 
Gray sucker, 101 
Gray trout, 267 
Grayling, 246 
Greenback, 198 
Green-backed shark, 30 
Green bass, 491 
Green pike, 296-98, 494, 498 
Green pollack, 694 
Green-sided darter, 512-13 
Green sunfish, 475-77 
Greenfish, 446 
Greenhead, 525 
Grenadiers, 712-14 
Grey trout, 571 
Grilse, 246 
Grindle, 75 
Ground shark, 35 
Grouper, snowy, 533-35 

spotted, 533-35 
Growler, 487 
Grubber, 183 
Grubby, 639-41 
Grunt, 589 

thornbacked, 444 
Grunters, 555-57, 589, 678, 680 
Guardfish, 319-21 
Gudgeon, 142-43 

New York, 309 

Niagara, 152-54 
Gunnellus mucronatus, 665 

punctatus, 668 
Gurnard, 676-83 

banded, 680 

common, 678 

flying, 683-85 

red, 682-83 
Gymnodontes, 617-31 
Gymnosarda, 385-90 

alleterata, 388-90 

pelamis, 386 

pelamys, 386-88 

Hacklehead, 641-42 
Haddock, 699-700 
Norway, 631-33 



Hadropterus, 507-9 

aspro, 507-9 
Haemulidae, 555-57 
Haemulon fulvomaculatum, 556 
Hair-finned argyreiose, 436 
Hair-finned dory, 436 
Hairtail, 402-3 
Hairy back, 188 
Hairy blowfish, 624 
Hairy diodon, 625 
Hairy porcupine fish, 625-26 
Hake, 586, 692, 705-7 

American, 692 

silver, 691-93 

spotted, 704-5 

squirrel, 706, 707-8 | 

white, 705-7 
Halatractus zonatus, 414 
Half -gills, 335-46 
Halfbeak, 324-25 

slender, 326-27 
Halibut, 714-15 
Hammerhead, 104 
Hammerheaded shark, 30-32 
Hanna hills, 537 
Haploidonotus grunniens, 590 
Haplomi, 287-317 
Harvestfishes, 455-59 

short-finned, 458 
Headfishes, 629-31 
Hecht, 299 
Hedgehog ray, 47-48 
Helicolenus, 633-35 

dactylopterus, 634-35 
Hemdurgon, 633 
Hemibranchii, 335-46 
Hemioplites, 471 

simulans, 473 
Hemirhamphidae, 323-27 
Hemirhamphus longirostris, 326 

(Euleptorhamphus) longirostris, 
326 

macrorhynchus, 326 

roberti, 324 

unifasciatus, 324 
Hemitremia bifrenata, 135 

heterodon, 137 
Hemitripterus, 645-47 

acadianus, 646 

americanus, 646-47 



762 



NEW YORK STAT© MUSEUM 



Hen-paddle, 651 
Herring, 188-219, 241 

autunmae, 197 

big-eyed, 179-80, 199 

blue, 195-96 

branch, 199-201 

fall, 197-98 

glut, 9, 202-3 

lake, 233-35, 241 

Long Island, 197 

river, 199 

round, 8, 189-91 

satin striped, 215 

sea, 192-94 

shad, 197-98, 203, 209-11 

sprat, 209-11 

spring, 199 

Staten Island, 197 

summer, 203 

thread, 188, 209-11 

toothed, 184-85 

wall-eyed, 199-200 
Heterosomata, 714-33 
Hexanematiehthys, 78-79 

felis, 78-79 
Hickory shad, 9, 188, 197-98 
Hicks, 198 
Hiodon, 183-86 

chrysopsis, 185 

clodalus, 184 

tergisus, 184-85 
Hiodontidae, 183-86 
Hippocampinae, 349-51 
Hippocampus, 349-51 

heptagonus, 350 

hudsonius, 349-51 
Hippoglossoides, 715-17 

dentatus, 716 

elassodon, 715 

platessoides, 716-17 
Hippoglossus, 714-15 

hippoglossus, 714-15 

vulgaris, 714 
Hippos mackerel, 422 
Histiophorus americanus, 404 

belone, 406 
Hog bass, 488 
Hog mullet, 104 
Hog sucker, 103-4 
Hogchoker, 732-33 



Hogfish, 505, 556-57 
Hogmolly, 104, 505-6 
Holocentrus surinamensis, 542 
Hololepis fusiformis, 520 
Homoprion xanthurus, 576 
Horned chub, 159-60 
Horned dace, 123-26, 160 
Horned dogfish, 44 
Horned pout, 87-89 
Hornfish, 495 
Horny head, 160 
Hors, 425 

Horse mackerel, 391-93, 446 
Horsefish, 349-51, 433-34, 498 
Houndnsh, 23, 319-21, 322-23 
Hoy's whitefish, 241 
Hudsonius amarus, 142 
Humpbacked butterfish, 434 
Huro nigricans, 490 
Hybognathus, 116-18 

nuchalis, 116-18 

osmerinus, 116 

procne, 139 

regius, 116 
Hybopsis, 156-60 

bifrenatus, 135 

dissimilis, 157-58 

heterodon, 137 

hudsonius, 140 

kentuckiensis, 159-60 

procne, 139 

storerianus, 142, 158-59 
Hyborhynchus notatus, 120 
Hybrid trout, 5, 257-59 
Hydrargira atricauda, 288 

diaphana, 311 

fusca, 288 

limi, 288 

multifasciata, 311 
Hydrargyra fusca, 288 

majalis, 307 

swampina, 311 
Hyodon alosoides, 185-86 

amphiodon, 185 

claudalus, 184 

clodalis, 184, 185 
Hypentelium macropterum, see 
Exoglossum (Hypentelium) ma- 
cropterum 
Hyperoartii, 11-17 



INDEX TO PISHES OF NEW YORK 



'63 



Hyporhamphus, 323-25 

roberti, 324-25 
Hyporthodus flavicauda, 533 
Hypsilepis cornutus, 145 
gibbus, 147 

diplaemia, 151 

kentuckiensis, 144 
Hypsoblennius, 664 
Hypsolepis frontalis, 147 

Ice fish, 282-85 
Ichtkyornyzon, 14-15 

argenteus, 15 

concolor, 14-15 
Ictalurus, 79-81 

albidus, 85 

lacustris, 81 

lophius, 85 

nigricans, 81 

punctatus, 80-81 
Ide, golden, 131-32 
Idus, 131-32 

idus, 131-32 

melanotus, 131 
Indian chub, 160 
Indian remora, 687 
inomi, 2S5-87 
Irish roach, 134 
Isospondyli, 177, 285 
Isospondylous fishes, 177-285 
Istiophoridae, 403-7 
Istiophorus, 403-5 

nigricans, 404-5 
Isuropsis dekayi, 38 
Isurus, 37-39 

dekayi, 38-39 

Jack, 297, 299, 495 

goggle-eyed, 427 

salt-water, 446 
Jack salmon, 495 
Jenny, silver, 566-67 
Jerker, 160 
Jewel head, 591 
John-a-grindle, 75 
John demon, 460 
John dories, 600-1 
Johnius ocellatus, 578 

regalis, 570 

saxatilis, 585 



Johnny, blue, 518 
Johnny darter, 513-14 
Jorobado, 434 
Jugular fishes, 691-714 
jumper, 488, 491, 492 
Jumping mullet, 364 

Kenoza, 292 
Killifishes, 307-17 

barred, 311, 312 

big, 311 

sheepshead, 317 

striped, 309 

white-bellied, 311 

yellow-bellied, 311 
Killy, bass, 307-9 

fresh-water, 311-13 
King, silver, 177-79 
King salmon, 241-44 
Kingfish, 400-1, 585-87 
Kingston, 46 
Kiouk, 203 
Kirtlandia, 359-61 

laciniata, 9, 360 

vagrans, 9, 359-61 
Kit, 54-55 

Kyphosidae, 567-69 
Kyphosus, 567-69 

sectatrix, 568-69 

La quesche, 185-86 
Labeo elegans, 106 

esopus, 105 

gibbosus, 105 

oblongus, 106 
Labidesthes, 361-62 

sicculus, 361-62 
Labrador whitefish, 9, 224-30 
Labrax albidus, 522 

lineatus, 524 

nigricans, 528 

notatus, 522 

pallidus, 528 

rufus, 528 
Labridae, 593-600 
Labroid fishes, 593-601 
Labrus adspersus, 593 

appendix, 478 

auritus, 478 

chogset, 593 



764 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 






Labrns {.continued) 
fulva, 593 

croinis, 587 

falcatus, 439 

fnlvomaculatus, 556 

griseus, 548 

grunniens, 588 

onitis, 597 

pallidus, 480 

salmoides, 490 

sparoides, 462 

squeteague, 570 
var. maculatus, 573 

striatus, 536 

tautoga, 597 

versicolor, 558 
Lactophrys, 615-17 

trigonus, 616-17 

yalei, 616 
Ladyfishes, 181-83 
Lafayette, 458, 577, 580-83 
Lagoeephalus, 617-19 

laevigatas, 618-19 

lagoeephalus, 618 
Lagodon, 561-62 

rhomboides, 561-62 
Lake bass, 462, 468, 487 
Lake blob, 638 
Lake carp, 98 
Lake catfish, 81-83 
Lake chub, 161-62 
Lake croppie, 463 
Lake cusk, 702 
Lake Erie bass, 462, 463 
Lake herring, 233-35, 241 
Lake lamprey, 13-14 
Lake minnow, 158-59 

Morse, 161-62 
Lake mullet, 111 
Lake pike, 300 
Lake sculpin, 644-45 
Lake shiner, 236, 241 
Lake sturgeon, 66-67 
Lake Tahoe trout, 250-52 
Lake trout, 266-71 

Swiss, 263-66 
Lamna, 39-40 

caudata, 27 

cornubica, 39-40 

punctata, 38 



Lamnidae, 37-41 
Lampetra, 15-17 

wilderi, 16-17 
Lamplighter, 463 ' j 

Lamprey eel, 11-13, 67 
Lampreys, 11-17 j 

brook, 16 

great sea, 11-13 

lake, 13-14 

mud, 16 

silver, 14-15 

small black, 16-17 
Lampugus punctulatus, 452, 453 
Lances, sand, 375-77 
Landlocked salmon, 246, 248-50 
Lantern fishes, 285-87 
Larimus, 574-75 

banded, 575 

fasciatus, 575 
Lawyer, 75, 701-4 
Leather carp, 168 
Leather jacket, 410-12, 608-10 
Lebias ellipsoides, 316 

ovinus, 316 

sheepshead, 316 
Leiostomus, 580-83 

obliquus, 581 

xanthurus, 580-83 
Leopard shark, 24 
Lepidsosteus osseus, 71 

platystomus, 72 
Lepisosteidae, 69-73 
Lepisosteus, 69-73 

bison, 70 

osseus, 70-72 

platostomus, 72-73 

platyrhincus, 72 
Lepomis, 477-82 

auritus, 478-80 

cyanellus, 475 

elongatus, 478 

gibbosus, 483 

mystacalis, 478 

pallidus, 480-82 
Leptoblennius, 670-71 

serpentinus, 670 
Leptocephalidae, 174-77 
Leptocephalus, 174-77 

conger, 175-77 
Leuciscus, 114, 127-31 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



765 



Leuciscus (continued) 

atromaculatus, 123 

atronasus, 154 

biguttatus, 159 

chrysopterus, 122 

cornutus, 145 

elongatus, 128-29 

erythrogaster, 114 

frontalis, 147 

heterodon, 137 

hudsonius, 140 

rdus, 131 

leuciscus, 128 

margarita, 130-31 

nasutus, 152 

nitidus, 122 

procne, 139 

proriger, 128 

pygmaeus, 289 

rubellus, 147 

rubrifrons, 149 

spilopterus, 143 

storeiianus, 142, 158 

vittatus, 145 
Leucosomus corporalis, 124 
Lichia Carolina, 443 
Licorne de Mer, 651 
Limanda, 726-27 

ferruginea, 726-27 
Ling, 674-75, 701-4 
Liparididae, 652-56 
Liparidinae, 652-56 
Liparis, 653-56 

lineata, 654 

liparis, 654-56 

montagui, 652 

vulgaris, 654 
Lirus perciformis, 455 
Lizard fishes, 285-87 
Lobotes, 542-43 

auctorum, 542 

emarginatus, 548 

surinamensis, 542-43 
Lobotidae, 542-43 
Loch Leven trout, 259-61 
Log perch, 505-6 
Long-eared sunfish, 478-80 
Long Island, species from, 5-6 
Long Island herring, 197 
Long jaw, 237-38, 241 



Long-jawed catfish, 84-85 
Long-nosed dace, 152-54 
Long-nosed sucker, 99-101 
Long-tailed porbeagle, 27 
Lookdown, 435-36 
Lophiidae, 733-35 
Lophius, 733-35 

americanus, 734 

bufo, 661 

histrio, 736 

piscator, 734 

piscatorius, 734-35 

vespertilio, 738 
Lophobranchii, 347-51 
Lophopsetta, 722-24 

maculata, 723-24 
Loricati, 631-56 
Losh, 702 
Lota, 701-4 

brosmiana. 701 

compressa, 701 

inornata, 701 

maculosa, 701-4 
Lucania, 314-15 

parva, 314-15 
Luccio, 299 
Luciidae, 291-307 
Lucioperca americana, 493 

canadensis, 498 

grisea, 499 

pepinus, 499 

vitrea, 494 
Lucius, 291-307 

americanus, 292-94 

lucius, 298-301 
immaculatus. 304 

masquinongy, 302-4 
immaculatus, 304-7 

reticulatus, 294, 296-9S 

vermiculatus, 294-96 
Lumpenus, 669-71 

lampetraeformis, 670-71 
Lumpfish, 649-52 
Lumpsucker, 649-52, 652-53 
Lumpus anglorum, 649 
Lunge, 267 
Lutianidae, 547-55 
Lutjanus ay a, 554 

blackfordi, 551 

Blackfordii, 550 



'M 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 






Lutpanus {continued) 

caballerote, 548 

carnpeachianus, 551 

campechianus, 553 

griseus, 548 

stearnsii, 548 

vivanus, 554 
Xuxilus, 145-47 . 

dissimilis, 157 

elongatus, 128 

erythrogaster, 114 

kentuckiensis, 144, 159 

lucidus, 151 

Mackerel, 379-401, 446 

chub, 381-83 

common, 379-81 

frigate, 384-85 

hippos, 422 

horse, 391-93, 446 

skip, 446 ■, 

snap, 445-48 

snapping, 446 

Spanish, 396-98 

thimbleeye, 381-83 

yellow, 430-31 
Mackerel midge, 708-9 
Mackerel pike, 292 
Mackerel scad, 423-24 
Mackerel shark, 37-41 
Mackinaw, 267 
Macrozoarces, 674 
Macrnridae, 712-14 
Macrurns carminatus, 713 

(Coelorhynchus) carminatus, 713 
Mademoiselle, 577 
Maiden, 559 

Mail-cheeked fishes, 631-56 
Makaira nigricans, 404 
Malashegany, 592 
Malthaea vespertilio, 738 
Malthe, 738 

vespertilio, 738 
Man-eater, 40-41 
Mangrove snapper,' 548-50 
Manitou darter, 506-7 
Marbled angler, 737 
Marbled cat, 89 
Margined stone cat, 95-96 
Marse banker, 425 



Marsipobranchii, 11-17 
Marthy, 702 
Mascalongus, 301-7 
Maskalonge, 302-4 

barred, 304-7 

spotted, 302-4 

unspotted, 304-7 
Maskinonge, 303 
Masticura, 53-59 
Mayfish, 309 
Megalops atlanticus, 177 

cepediana, 187 

elongatus, 177 

notata, 209 

oglina, 209 

thrissoides, 177 
Melanogrammus, 699-700 

aeglefinus, 699-700 
Melanura annulata, 289 

pygmaea, 289 
Meletta suoerii, 195 
Menhaden, 5, 211-13 
Menidia, 354-59 

beryllina, 356-57 

gracilis, 355-56 
beryllina, 356 

laciniata, 360 

notata, 357-59 

vagrans, 359 
laciniata, 360 
Menominee whitefish, 221 
Menticirrhus, 584-87 

nebulosus, 585 

saxatilis, 585-87 
Merit fish, 359 
Merlangus carbonarius, 693 

leptocephalus, 693 

purpureus, 693 
Merluciidae, 691-93 
Merlucius, 691-93 

albidus, 691 

bilinearis, 691-93 
Mesoprion caballerote, 548 

griseus, 548 
Methy, 702 
Microgadus, 694-97 

proximus, 694 

tomcodus, 695 
Micropogon, 583-84 

costatus, 583 






INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



767 



Micropogon (continued) 

lineatus, 583 

undulatus, 583-84 
Micropterus, 486-93 

dolomieu, 486-90 

pallidus, 490 

saluioides, 490-93 
Micropteryx chrysurus, 437 
Milbert's shark, 26-28 
Miller's thumb, 635-37, 637-38 
Minister, 87 
Minnilus blennius, 138 

cornutus, 145 

var. frontalis, 147 

dinemus, 148 

diplaemius, 151 

nbtatus, 120 

percobromus, 149 

plumbeolus, 145 

rubellus, 148 

rubrifrons, 149 
Minnow, blackhead, 118-19 

bluntnosed, 120-21 

bridled, 135-36 

brook, 154-56 

emerald, 147-49 

fathead, 118 

lake, 158-59 

Morse lake, 161-62 

mud, 287-91 

pearl, 130-31 

plumbeous, 161-62 

red-bellied, 115 

rosy, 147-49 

rosy-faced, 149-50 

salt-water, 310 

sheepshead, 315-17 

silvery, 116-18 

spotted, 120-21 

steel back, 113 

straw-colored, 138-39 

striped mud, 289-91 

toothed, 312 

top, 307 
Minny bass, 487 
Minytrema, 107-9 

melanops, 108-9 
Mirror carp, 167 
Mishcuppauog, 559 
Mississippi cat, 82 



Mitchill's perch, 525 
Mixed tomcod, 696 
Mojarra de Ley, 566-67 
Mojarras, 565-67 
Mola, 629-31 

mola, 629-31 

rotunda, 630 
Molacanthus, 629 
Molidae, 629-31 
Moll, 598 

Molva maculosa, 701 
Monacanthidae, 611-15 
Monacanthus, 611-13 

aurantiacus, 613 

broccus, 612 

hispidus, 611-13 

massachusettensis, 612 

setifer, 612 
Mongrel whitefish, 238-41 
Monk, 46 

Monkfish, 45-46, 735 
Mooneye, 183-86 

northern, 185-86 
Mooneye Cisco, 235-37 
Moonfish, 433-34, 435-36, 602-4 
Morone, 527-31 

americana, 528-31 

flavescens, 500 

maculata, 483 

pallida, 528 

rufa, 528 
Morrhua aeglefinus, 699 

americana, 698 

americanus, 698 

pruinosa, 695 
Morse lake minnow, 161-62 
Moss bass, 491 
Mossbunker, 211-13 
Motella argentata, 708 

caudacuta, 710 

en sis, 709 
Mother-of-eels, 702 
Mountain trout, 488 
Mousefish, 736-37 

smooth, 736 
Moxostoma, 109-12 

anisurum, 109-10 

aureolum, 110-12 

crassilabre, 112 

macrolepidotum, 111 

oblongum, 106 



'68 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Mud cat, 82 

Mud creeper, 656-58 

Mud dace, 288 

Mud eel, 15 

Mud lamprey, 16 

Mud minnow, 2ST-91 

striped, 289-91 
Mud shad, 188 
Mud sucker, 104 ' 

Mud sunfish, 464-66 
Mudfish, 74-76, 310 
Muffle- jaws, 636 
Mugil, 9, 362-68 

albula, 363 

bra siliensis, 366, 367 

eephalus, 363-66 

curema, 366-67 

gigas, 587 

grunniens, 587 

lineatus, 363 

obliquus, 581 

petrosus, 366 

trichodon, 9, 366, 367-68 
.Mugilidae, 362-68 
Mullet, 106, 111, 362-68 

black, 586 

fantail, 367-68 

golden, 111 

jumping, 364 

lake, 111 

red. 377-79 

striped, 363-66 

summer, 367 

whirligig, 367-68 

white, 366-67 
Mullidae, 377-79 
Mullus, 377-79 

auratus, 377-79 

barbatus auratus, 377 
Mummichog, 309-11 

banded or strips. 309 

spring, 312 
Mummy, 310 

porgy, 316 
Muraena bostoniensis, 170 

conger, 175 

rostrata, 170 
Muraenoides gunnellus, 665 
Muscalonge, 303 
Muskailunge, 303 



Muskellunge, 303 
Mustelus, 22-23 

canis, 23 
Muttonfish, 674-75 
Myliobatide, 57-60 
Myliobatis, 57-58 

acuta, 58 

freminvillei, 58 

? say, 55 
Myoxocephalus, 639-44 

aeneus, 639-41 

groenlandicus, 642-44 

octodeeimspinosus, 641-42 
Myxostoma anisura, 109 
Myxus harengus, 365 

Naked goby, 656-58 
Namaycush, 266 
Narcobatidae, 51-52 
Nauclerus, 412 
Naucrates, 412-14 

ductor, 412-14 

indicus, 412 

noveboracensis, 412 
Needle-fishes, 317-23 
Nematognathi, 76-97 
Neoliparis, 652-53 

atlanticus, 652-53 

montagui, 652 
Neomaenis, 547-55 

aya, 551 

blackfordi, 9, 550-55 

griseus, 548-50 1 
Nerfling, gold, 131 
New York gudgeon, 309 
New York pollack, 694 
New York shadine, 190-91 
Newlig^t, 460 
Niagara gudgeon, 152-54 
Nigger chub, 160, 162-64 
Nipper, 593-96 
Nocomis, 159-60 
Northern barracuda, 371-73 
Northern chub sucker, 106 
Northern mooneye, 185-86 
Northern pickerel, great, 299 
Northern sucker* 99, 100 
Norway haddock, 631-33 
Notemigonus, 132-34 

chrysoleucas, 132 

lucidus, 151 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



769 



HSotropis, 135-52 

a mams, 141, 142 

amoenus, 150-51 

anogenus, 136 

atherinoides, 147-49 

bifrenatus, 135-36 

blennius, 138-39 

cayuga, 136-37 

cornutus, 145-47 
frontalis, 147 

dilectus, 149 

dinernus, 149 

lieterodon, 137-38 

liudsonius, 140-42, 143 
amarus, 142-43 

lythrurus, 151 

rnegalops, 145 

. frontalis, 147 

photogenis, 151 

procne, 139-40 

rubrifrons, 149-50 

umbratilis lythrurus, 151-52 

whipplei, 144 

wbipplii, 143-45 
jS'oturus, 91-92 

flavus. 91-92 

gyrinus. 93 

insignis, 95 

lemniscatus, 95 

marginatus, 96 

miurus, 96 
Numbfish, 51-52 

Oblong 1 flounder, 721 
Oceanic bonito, 386-88 
Oceanic sucker, 689 
Odontaspis americanus, 34 
Ogcocepbalidae, 737-38 
Ogcocepbalus, 737-38 

vespertilio, 738 
Ohio golden shad, 192 
Ohio river sturgeon, 66 
OkoTT, 495 
Oldwife, 582 
Oligocepbalus, 517-18 
Oligoplites, 410-12 

occidentalis, 410 

saurus, 410-12 
Oncocottus, 644, 645 



Oncorkynchus, 241-44 

cbouicba, 242 

orientalis, 242 

quinnat, 241 

tschawytscha, 241-44 
Oneida sucker, 111 
Onos cimbrius, 710 

en sis, 709 

reinbardti, 708 

rufus, 709 
Opbidiidae, 675-76 
Ophidioideh 674-75 
Opbidium barbaturn, 676 

marginatum, 675 

mucronatum, 665 
Opbioscion, 576, 578, 583 
Opistbonema, 209-11 

oglina, 209 

oglinum, 209-11 
Opsanus, 660-62 

tau, 661-62 
Orange filefisb, 613-15 
Orcynus alliteratus, 389 

pelamys, 386 

tbynnus, 391 
Orfe, 131 
Ortbagoriscus analis, 630 

moJa, 630 . 
Ortbopristis, 555-57 

cbrysopterus, 556-57 

duplex, 556 
Osmerus, 282-85 

mordax, 282-85 

Tiridescens, 282 
Ostariopbysi, 76-738 
Ostraciidae, 615-17 
Ostracion, 615 

trigonus, 616 

yalei, 616 
Ostracium trigonum, 616 

trigonus, 616 
Ostracodermi, 615-17 
Oswego bass, 491, 492 
Otolitbus, 569 

carolinensis, 573 

nebulosus, 573 

regalis, 570 
Otsego bass, 225 
Ouananicbe, 249 
Ovate pompano, 439-41 
Oysterfisb, 598, 656-58, 661-62 



770 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEHJM 



Paddlefishes, 60-63 
Pagrus argyrops, 558 
Painted tail, 487 
Pale sucker, 101 
Palinurichthys, 454-55 

perciformis, 454-55 
Palinuras perciformis, 454 
Parnmelas perciformis, 455 
Panhagen, 212 
Pappyfish, 456-57 
Paralichthys, 717-22 

dentatus, 717-20 

lethostigma, 720 

lethostigmus, 720-21 

oblongus, 721-22 

ophryas, 718 
Paratractus, 430-31 

pisquetus, 430 
Parche, 604-6 
Parr, 245 
Pastinaca bastata, 53, 54 

maclura, 56 
Pearl minnow, 130-31 
Pearl roach, 134 
Pediculate fishes, 733-38 
Pediculati, 733-38 
Pegedictis, 635-37 

ictalops, 635 
Peixe carago, 18-22 
Pelamys sarda, 393 
Perca, 500-4 

acuta, 500 

americana, 500, 528 

atraria, 536 

chrysops, 522 

chrysoptera, 556 

flavescens, 500-4 

fluviatilis, 500 

gibbosa, 483 i 

gracilis, 500 

granulata, 500 

marina, 631 

mitchilli, 524 
alternata, 524 
interrupta, 524 

ocellata, 578 

saltatrix, 445 

schrenckii, 500 

sectatrix, 568 

septentrionalis, 524 



Perca (continued) 

serrato-granulata, 500 

undulata, 583 

varia, 536, 537 

vitrea, 493 
Percesoces, 354-73 
Perch, 488, 493-521, 529, 595 

black, 488, 529, 537 ' 

blue, 595 

bridge, 460, 487 

chinquapin, 460, 463 

goggle-eye, 463 

log, 505-6 

Mitchill's, 525 

pike, 493-97 

pirate, 352-54 

red, 529 

red-eyed, 468 

red sea, 633 

ring, 500-4 

river, 529 

sand, 463 

sea, 595 

silver, 463, 576-78 

speckled, 460 

strawberry, 460, 463 

striped, 502 

tin, 460 

trout, 351-52, 488 

White, 528-31, 590-92 

yellow, 6, 488, 500-4, 529 
Perch pike, 494 
Perchlike fishes, 459-599 
Percidae, 493-521 
Percina, 504-6 

caprodes, 505-6 
var. manitou, 506 
zebra, 506-7 

manitou, 506 
Percoidea, 459-599 
Percopsidae, 351-52 
Percopsis, 351-52 

guttatus, 351-52 

hammondi, 351 
Petromyzon, 11-14 

americanus, 11 

appendix, 11 

concolor, 14 

marinus, 11-13 
subsp. dorsatus, 13 






INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



771 



Petromyzon {continued) 
unicolor, 13-14 

nigrum. 16 
Petronryzontidae, 11-17 
Pharyngognathi, 593-601 
Pholis, 665-66 

gunnellus, 665-66 

subbifurcatus, 667 
Photogenis spilopterus, 143 
Phoxinus, 114, 130-31 

elongatus, 128 

margaritus, 130 
Phycis chuss, 707 

filainentosus, 707 

punctatus, 705 

regalis, 704 

regius, 704 

tenuis, 706 
Picarel, 495 

Pickerel, 5, 298-301, 495, 498, 505 
. banded, 292-94 

chain, 6, 296-98 

eastern, 297 

great, northern, 299 

little, 294-96, 505 

trout, 295 
Pickering, 498 
Pigflsh, 556-57, 642 
Pigmy sculpin, 639-41 
Pike. 291-307, 493-97 

blue, 303, 494, 497 

bony, 71 

bony-scaled, 6 

common, 298-301 

federation, 297 

gar, 70-72 

grass, 300, 494 

gray, 498, 499 

great, 303 

green, 298-98, 494, 498 

lake, 300 

long-jawed fresh-water. 318 

rock, 499 

sand, 498-99 

sea, 318 

wall-eyed, 493-97 

yellow, 494 
Pike perch, 493-97 
Pikelike fishes, 287-317 



Pileoma semifasciatum, 505 

zebra, 506 
Pilot, banded, 415 

black, 454-55 

shark's, 416 
Pilot-fish, 221, 412-14 
Pilot sucker, 687-88 
Pimelepterus boscii, 568 
Pimelodus atrarius, 85 

catus, 87 

cupreus, 84 

flavus, 91 

insigne, 95 

lemniscatus, 96 

livree, 96 

marmoratus, 89 

natalis, 84 

nebulosus, 87 

nigricans, 81 

pullus, 90 

vulgaris, 84 
Pimephales, 118-21 

notatus, 120-21 

promelas, 118-19 
Pinfish, 562 
Pipefish, 347-49 

common, 347-49 

spotted, 346 
Pirate perches, 352-54 
Pisces. 17-738 
Plaice, 724 
Platessa dentata, 716 

ferruginea, 726 

oblonga, 717, 720 

ocellaris, 717 

plana, 727 

pusilla, 728 

quadrocellata, 721 

rostrata, 726 
Platophrys, 730-31 

nebularis, 730 

ocellatus, 730-31 
Plectognathi, 608-733 
Plectospondyli, 97-169 
Pleuronectes, 727 

americanus, 727 

aquosus, 723 

dentatus, 717 

ferrugineus, 726 

hippoglossus, 714 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Pleuronoctes (continued) 
maculatus, 723 
melanogaster, 717 
mollis, 732 

oblongus, 721 

planus, 727 

platessoicles, 716 
Pleuroneetidae, 714-31 
Plumbeous minnow, 161-62 
Pneumatophorus, 381-83 
Poecilia macrolepidota, 309 
Poecilichthys coeruleus, 517 

eos, 521 

fusiformis, 520 
Poeciliidae, 307-17 
Pogonias, 587-90 

chromis, 588 

cromis, 587-90 

fasciatus, 587 
Pogy, 559 
Pollachius, 693-94 

carbonarius, 693 

virens, 693-94 
Pollack, 693-94 

black, 694 

green, 694 

NeAY York, 694 
Polydactylus, 373-75 

octofllis, 375 

octonemus, 373-75 
Polynemidae, 373-75 
Polynemus octofilis, 373 

octonemus, 373 

sexradiatus, 684 
Polyodon, 60-63 

feuille, 61 

folium, 61 

spa inula, 61-63 
Polyodontidae, 60-03 
Polyprion, 531-33 

americanus, 532-33 

cernium, 532 

oxygeneios, 532 

oxygenius, 532 
Pomadasys fulvomaculatus, 556 
Pornatomidae, 445-48 
Pomatomus, 445-48 

saltator, 445 

saltatrix, 445-48 



Pomolobus, 195-203 
aestivalis, 202 

clirysocbloris, 195-96 

cyanonoton, 202-3 

mediocris, 197-98 

pseudoharengus, 199-201 

vernalis, 199 
Pomotis appendix, 478 

auritus, 483 

gibbosus, 480 

gulosus, 470 

guttatus, 472 

hexacanthus, 462 

incisor, 480 

longulus, 475 

obesus, 471 

rubricauda, 478 

speciosus, 480 

vulgaris, 483 
Pomoxis annularis, 459-62 

nlticlus, 459 

sparoides, 462-64 
Pomoxys, 459-64 

sparoides, 462 
Pompano, common, 443-44 

ovate, 439-41 

round, 439-41 

shore, 441 

silvery, 441-43 
Pompeynose, 444 
Pondflsh, 484 
Porbeagle, 39-40 

long-tailed, 27 
Porcupine fishes, 624-29 

hairy, 625-26 
Porgee, 583 

big, 559 

little, 582 

rhomboidal, 562 

sand, 558-61, 582 

three-tailed, 603 
Porgies, 557-65 
Porgy mummy, 316 
Poronotus, 457-59 

triacanthus, 458 
Pout, horned, 87-89 
Priacanthiclae, 544-47 
Priacanthus, 544-45 

altus, 546 

arenatus, 544-45 

macrophthalmus, 544 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



773 



Prickly skate, 47-48 
Pride, 16-17 
Prionace, 24-25 

glauea, 25 
Prionodon glaucns. see Carcharias 
< Prionodon) glaucns 

milberti, see Carcharias (Priono- 
don) milberti 

obscurus, see Carcharias (Priono- 
don) obscnrus 
Prionotus, 676-82 

carolinus, 677-78 

evolans, 679 
var. lineatus, 679 

lineatus, 679 

palinipes. 677 

strigatus. 679-81 

tribulus, 681-82 
Pristipoina fasciatum. 556 

fulvoinaculatuin, 556 
Promicropterus, 541-42 
Psetta, 723 
Pseudoplenronectes, 726, 727-29 

americanus, 727-29 
Pseudopriacanthus, 545-47 

altus, 546-47 
Pseudorhoinbus dentatus, 717 

oblongus, 721 

ocellaris, 717 
Pseudotriakidae, 17-22 
Pseudotriakis, 17-22 

microdon, 18-22 
Pterophryne, 735-37 

bistrio, 736-37 
Pteroplatea, 56-57 

raaclura, 56-57 
Ptyonotus tbompsonii, 644 
Puckermoutb, 719 
Puffers, 617-24 

smooth, 618-19 
Pug-nosed shiner, 434 
Pumpkin seed, 458, 483-86 
Pygosteus, 337-40 

pungitius, 338-40 

sinensis, 338 

Querimana, 9, 365 

gyrans, 9, 366, 368 

harengus, 366 
Quinnat salmon, 241-44 



Rabbitfish, 618-19 
Rachyeentridae, 448-50 
Pachycentron. 448-50 

canadus. 449-50 
Radiated sbanny. 667-68 
Raia eglanteria, 49 

laevis, 50 

ocellata, 4S 
Rainbow darter, 517-18 
Rainbow trout, 261-63 
Rainwater fish, 314-15 
Raja, 46-51 

bonasus, 59 

centroura, 53 

diaphanes, 49 

eglanteria, 47, 49-50 

erinacea, 47-48 

erinaceus, 47 

laevis, 50-51 

maclura, 56 

ocellata, 48-49 

say, 55 

torpedo, 51 
Rajidae, 46-51 
Rakehead, 32 
Ray, 46-60 

brier, 49-50 

butterfly, 56-57 

common sting, 53-54 

cow-nosed, 59-60 

eagle, 57-60 

electric, 51-52 

hedgehog, 47-48 

southern sting, 55-56 

spotted. 48 

sting, 53-57 

whip, 55 

whip sting, 55 

whip-tailed, 53-59 
Razor back, 463 
Red-bellied dace, 114-16 
Red-bellied minnow, 115 
Red drum, 578-80, 589 
Red-eyed perch, 468 
Red gurnard, 682-83 
Red horse, 110-12 

golden, 111 
Red mullet, 377-79 
Red perch, 529 
Red sea perch, 633 



774 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Red-sided shiner, 128-29 

Red-sided sucker, 100 

Red snapper, 9. 550-55 

Red sturgeon, 66 

Redtail, 160 

Redthroat trout, 250-52 

Red trout, 267 

Red-winged sea robin, 678, 679-81 

Redeye, 467-70, 475-77 

Redfin, 145-47, 151-52 

Redfish, 634-35 

Remora, 686-90 

brachyptera, 689-90 

Indian, 687 

jacobaea, 688 

remora, 688-89 

white-tailed, 687 
Remoropsis brachyptera, 689 

brachypterus, 689 
Reniceps tiburo, 30 
Requiem sharks, 22-30 
Rhegnopteri, 373-75 
Rheocrypta copelandi, 509 
Rhina squatina, 45 
Rhinichthys, 152-56 

atronasus, 154-56 

cataractae, 152-54 

marmoratus, 152 

nasutus, 152 

obtusus, 155 
Rhinonemus cimbrius, 710 
Rhinoptera, 58-60 

bonasus, 59-60 

quadriloba, 59 
Rhombochirus, 690 

osteochir, 690 
Rhomboganoidea, 69-73 
Rhomboidal porgee, 562 
Rhomboidichthys ocellatus, 730 
Rhombus, 455-59 

aquosus, 723 

longipinnis, 456 

ocellatus, 730 

paru, 456-57 

triacanthus, 457-59 
Rhypticus decoratus, 541 

maculatus, 541 
Richardsonius, 128 
Ring perch, 500-4 



Rissola, 675-76 

marginata, 675-76 
River alewife, 192 
River bass, 491 
River chub, 159-60 
River herring, 199 
River perch, 529 
Roach, 6, 132-34, 582 

Irish, 134 

pearl, 134 
Robin, flying, 684-85 
Roecus, 522-27 

americanus, 528 

chrysops, 522-23 

comes, 570 

lineatus, 524-27 

striatus, 524 
Rock, 525 

Rock bass, 467-70, 537 
Rock cod, 699 
Rock eels, 665-71 
Rock pike, 499 
Rock sturgeon, 66 
Rock toadfish, 646 
Rockfish, 155, 505, 524-27, 631-35 
Rockling, 709-10 

four-bearded, 710-11 

silvery, 708-9 
Roncador, 590 
Rosefish, 631-33 
Rostrated dory, 436 
Rosy-faced minnow, 149-50 
Rosy minnow, 147-49 
Rough dab, 716-17 
Rough-head, 146 
Rough silversides, 359-61 
Round herring, 8, 189-91 
Round pompano, 439-41 
Round robin, 421-22 
Round whitefish, 221-24 
Rounded sucker, 106 
Roundfish, 221, 222 
Rudderfish, 454-55, 457, 567-69 

banded, 414-16, 428-29 
Ruddy bass, 529 
Ruddy sturgeon, 66 
Runner, 419-20, 598 
Rusty dab, 727 
Rusty flatfish, 727 
Rusty flounder, 717 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



i 10 



Rutilus anonialus, 113 

storeriaiius, 158 
Rypticus, 540-42 

bistrispinus, 541-42 

Sac-a-lait, 460, 463 
Saibling, 275-78 
Sailfishes, 403-7 
Sailor's choice, 561-62 
Salar ausonii, 254 
Salmo, 244-66, 257-59 

adirondacus, 266 

alpinus, 275, 278 

amethystinus, 266 

amethystus, 266 

ascanii, 275 

canadensis, 272 

clarkii henshawi, 250 

clupeaforinis, 224 

colii, 276 

confinis, 266 

erythrogaster, 272 

fario, 254-57 
ausonii, 254 

foetens, 286 

fontinalis, 272 

gairdneri, 252-54 

gairdnerii, 252 

gloverii, 248 

grayi, 276 

(Coregonus) harengus, 233 

henshawi, 250-52 

hoodii, 266 

immacnlatus, 272 

irideus, 261-63 
Shasta, 261 

killinensis, 276 

(Coregonus) labradoricus, 224 

lemanus, 263-66 

levenensis, 259 

mykiss, 250 
henshawi, 250 

namaycush, 266 

pallidus, 266 

perisii, 276 

purpuratus, 252 
var. henshawi, 250 

■(Coregonus) quadrilaterals, 221 

quinnat. 241" 

rivalis, 276 



Salmo {continued) 

salar, 244-48 ' 
sebago, 248-50 
var. sebago, 248 

salmarinus, 275 

sarvelinus, 275 

sebago, 248 

siscowet, 266 

trutta, 263 

levenensis, 259-61 

tshawytscha, 241 

(Coregonus) tullibee, 238 

umbla, 275 

willughbii, 276 
Salmon, 61-62, 219-82 

Atlantic, 244-48 

black, 267 

Chinook, 241-44 

dwarf, 246 

fresh-water, 246 

jack, 495 

king, 241-44 

landlocked, 246, 248-50 

Quinnat, 241-44 

Susquehanna, 494 

white, 495, 497 
Salmon killer, 341 
Salmon shark, 40 
Salmon trout, 180, 252-54, 266-71 
Salmonidae, 219-82 
Salmoperca pellucida, 351 
Salmopercae, 351-52 
Salt water bream, 562 
Salt-water chub, 598 
Salt-water jack, 446 
Salt-water minnow, 310 
Salt-water trout, 571 
Salvelinus, 271-82 

alpinus, 275-78 
aureolus, 2^82 

aureolus, 278 

fontinalis, 272-75 

namaycush, 266 
Sand dab, 717, 726-27 
Sand eel, 376-77 
Sand flounder, 724, 730-31 
Sand lances, 375-77 
Sand perch, 463 
Sand pike. 287. 498-99 
Sand porgee, 558-61, 5S2 



77(3 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 






Sand rollers. 351-52 • 
Sand shark. 34-37 
Sand smelt, 359 
Sand sucker. 108-9 
Sarcura, 46-52 
Sard a. 393-95 

mediterranea, 393 

pelamys, 393 

sarda, 393-95 
Sardine, scaled, 209 
Sardinella, 208-9 

§p., 209 
Sargus ambassis, 558 

arenosus, 558 

oris, 563 

rhoinboides, 561 
Sarothrodus maculocinctus, 605 
Satin striped herring, 215 
Sauger, 498-99 
Saurel, 425-26 
Sauries, 327-29 
Saurus foetens, 286 

inexicanus, 286 
Sawbelly, 200 
Scabbard fish, 402-3 
Scad, 421-22, 425 

big-eyed, 426-27 

dotted, 422 

mackerel, 423-24 
Scale carp, 167 
Scaled sardine, 209 
Scaly fins, 601-8 
Schilbeodes, 92-97 

gyrinus, 93-94 

insignis, 95-96 

miurus, 96-97 
Schoodic trout, 246 
Schuylkill cat, 86 
Sciaena, 578, 590 

caprodes, 505 

chrysura, 576 

imberbis, 578 

lineata, 524 

nebulosa, 585 

obliqua, 581 

ocellata, 578 

oscula, 590 

punctata, 576 

xanthurus, 581 
Sciaenidae, 569-92 



Sciaenops, 578-80, 583 

ocellatus, 578-80 
Sciena fusca, 588 

gigas, 588 
Scleroderma 608-15 
Scoliodon, 29-30 
Scoliodon terrae novae, 29-30 
Scolopsis sayanus, 353 
Scomber, 3,79-83 

alleteratus, 388 

chrysurus, 437 

colias, 381-83 

crumenophthalmus, 426 

crysos, 430 

dekayi, 382 

ductor, 412 

grex, 382 

hippos, 421, 428 

maculatus, 396 

pelamis, 386 

plumbeus, 445 

plurnieri, 426 

pneumatophorus, 382 

regalis, 398 

sarcla, 393 

saurus, 410 

scomber, 380 

scombrus, 379-81 

thazard, 384 

thynnus, 391 

trachurus, 425 

vernalis, 380 

zonatus, 414 
Scomberesociclae, 327-29 
Scomberesox, 327-29 

equirostrum, 327 

saurus, 327-29 

scutellatum, 327 

storeri, 328 
Scomberomorus, 395-401 

cavalla, 400-1 

maculatus, 396-98 

regalis, 398-400 
Scombridae, 379-401 
Scombroidei, 379-459 
Scombroides occidentalis, 410 
Scorpaena americana, 646 

dactyloptera, 634 

flava, 646 

purpurea, 646 

rufa, 646 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



777 



Scorpaeniclae, 631-35 
Scorpoena, yellow, 646 
Sculpin, 635-47 

brassy, 639 

daddy, 642-44 

deep water, 646 

18-spined, 641-42 

lake, 644-45 

piginy, 639-41 

sea, 646 
Seup, 558-61 
Scuppaug, 559 
Scuteeg, 571 
Sea basses, 522-42, 536-39 

striped, 525 
Sea catfish, 77-78, 78-79 
Sea devil, 735 
Sea eel, 175-77 
Sea herring, 192-94 
Sea horse, 349-51 
Sea lamprey, great, 11-13 
Sea mink, 585-87 
Sea owl, 651 
Sea perch, 595 

red, 633 
Sea pike, 318 
Sea poacher, 648-49 
Sea raven, 646-47 
Sea robin, 642, 677-78, 680 

big-headed, 681-82 

red-winged, 678, 679-81 
Sea sculpin, 646 
Sea snails, 652-56 

striped, 654-56 
Sea snipe, 318 
Sea swallow, 685 
Sea toad, 642 
Sea trout, 571. 573-74 
Sea wolf, 673 
Seaweed blenny, 663-64 
Sebago trout, 246 
Sebastes, 631-33 

dactylopterus, 634 

marinus, 631-33 

norvegicus, 632 

norwegicus, 631 
Sebastinae, 631-35 
Sebastoplus dactylopterus, 634 
Seering, 180 
Selachii. 17-60 



Selachostomi, 60-63 
Selachus maximus, 42 
Selene, 434-36 

argentea, 435 

gal lu s, 435 

setipinnis, 433 

vomer, 435-36 
Semotilus, 121-26 

atromaculatus, 123-26 

bigultatus, 159 

bullaris, 122-23 

corporalis, 122, 124 
Serau imperial, 634-35 
Sergeant fishes, 448-50 
Seriola, 414-18 

bipinnulata, 419 

cosmopolita, 437 

gigas, 416 

lalandi, 416-18 

pinnulata, 419 

zonata, 414-16 
Seriolichthys bipinnulatus, 419 
8erranidae, 522-42 
Serranus atrarius, 536 

brasiliensis, 539 

flaviventris, 539 

margaritifer, 533 

nigrescens, 536 

niveatus, 533 
Shad, 192, 204-8, 460 

Cayuga lake, 200 

fall, 197 

gizzard, 186-88 

gold, 195-96 

hickory, 9, 188, 197-98 

little, 200 

mud, 188 

Ohio golden. 192 

stink, 188 

tailor, 198 
• white, 205 

white-eyed, 188 

winter, 188 
Shad bait, 194 

Shad herring. 197-98, 203, 209-11 
Shad trout, 571 
Shad-waiter, 221, 224-30 
Shadine, 190-91 
Shanny, radiated, 667-68 
Shark ray, 46 



<s 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Sharks, 17-60 

angel, 45-46 

basking, 41-43 

bine, 39 

bone, 43 

dog, 23 

dusky, 25-26 

elephant, 42-43 

great blue, 25 

great white, 40-41 

green-backed, 30 

ground, 35 

haminerheaded, 30-32 . 

leopard, 24 

little bullhead, 46 

mackerel, 37-41 

Gilbert's, 26-28 

requiem, 22-30 

salmon, 40 

sand, 34-37 

sharp-nosed, 29-30 

shovelhead, 30-31 ' 

shovelnose, 32 

small blue, 27 

swingle-tail, 33-34 

thresher, 32-34 

tiger, 24 
Shark's pilot, 416 
Sharksucker, 686-87 
Sharp-nosed shark, 29-30 
Sheepshead, 458, 563-65, 591 

three-tailed, 603 

young, 589 
Sheepshead chaetodon, 603 
Sheepshead killifish, 317 
Sheepshead Lebias, 316 
Sheepshead minnow, 315-17 
Shiner, 139-40, 145-47, 160, 235-37, 
241, 359, 562 • 

blunt-nosed, 434 

cryptous broad, 458 

golden, 132-34 

lake, 236 

pug-nosed, 434 

red-sided, 128-29 

spotted, 157-58 
Shoemaker, 104 
Shoemakerfisli, 432-33 
Shore pompano, 441 
Short-finned harvestfish, 458 
Short-nosed gar, 72-73 



Short-nosed sturgeon, 68-69 
Shovel fish, 61 
Shovelhead shark, 30-31 
Shovelnose shark, 32 
Sierra, 40O-1 
Siluridae, 76-97 
Silurus catus, 85-87 

felis, 78 

gyrinus, 93 

marinus, 77 

melas, 90 

punctatus, 80 
Silver bass, 185, 462, 523 
Silver cat, 80 
Silver chub, 122-23 
Silver gar, 317-19 
Silver hake, 691-93 
Silver Jenny, 566-67 
Silver king, 177-79 
Silver lamprey, 14-15 
Silver perch, 463, 576-78 
Silver trout, 278-82 
Silverfin, 143-45 
Silverfish, 165 
Silversides, 354-62 

brook, 361-62 

fresh-water, 356-57 

rough, 359-61 

slender, 355-56 

small, 358 
Silvery anchovy, 216-17 
Silvery minnow, 116-18 
Silvery pompano, 441-43 
Silvery rockling, 708-9 
Siphostoma, 347-49' 

fuscum, 347-49 

peckianum, 347 
Skate, 17, 46-51, 49 

barndoor, 50-51 

big, 48-49 

bonnet, 48 

clear-nosed, 49-50 

common, 47-48 

prickly, 47-48 

spotted, 48-49 

summer, 48 

winter, 49 
Skip mackerel, 446 
Skipjack, 192, 195-96, 361-62, 

458 
Skippang, 212 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



70 



Skipper, 327-29 
Slender half beak, 326-27 
Slender silversides, 355-56 
Slippery Dick, 675-76 
Smelt. 140-42, 143, 282-85 

sand, 359 
Smelt of New York lakes, 230-33 
Smolt, 245 

Smooth browed bullhead, 640 
Smooth dogfish, 23 
Smooth monsefish, 736 
Smooth puffer, 618-19 
Snake blenuy, 671 
Snakefish, 287, 670-71 
Snap mackerel, 445-48 
Snapper, 445-48, 547-55, 633 

blue, 446 

gray, 548-50 

mangrove, 548-50 

red, 9, 550-55 
Snapping mackerel, 446 
Snipe, sea, 318 
Snowy grouper, 533-35 
Soapfish, 541-42 
Soft gar, 318 
Soft sucker, 108 
Soldier fish. 518 
Soleidae, 731-33 
Soles, 731-33 

American, 732-33 

calico, 732 
Southern flounder, 720-21 
Spadefishes, 601-4 
Spanish mackerel, 396-98 
Sparidae, 557-65 
Spams argyrops, 558 

aureus, 483 

chrysops, 558 

ovis, 563 

probatocephalus, 563 

rhomboides, 561 
Spawn-eater, 140-42 
Spearfish, 287, 405-7 
Spearfish sucker, 690 
Spearing, 359 
Speckled perch, 460 
Speckled trout, 273 
Sperling, 194, 359 
Sphaeroides trichocephalus. 024 



Spheroides, 619-24 

maculatus, 620-22 

nephelus, 624 

pachygaster. 624 

testudineus. 622-24 

trichocephalus, 624 
Sphyraena. 368-73 

acus, 322 

borealis, 371-73 

guachancho, 369-70 

guaguanche, 369 

guaguancho. 369 

giintheri, 369 

spet 371 
Sphyraenidae. 368-73 
Sphyioa. 30-32 

tiburo. 30-31 

zygaena, 31-32 
Sphyrnidae. 30-32 
Spikefish. 404-5 
Spinax acanthias. 43 
Spined dogfish, 43-45 
Spinous dory, 439 
Spinous trachinote, 441 
Spiny boxfish. 626-28 
Spiny-rayed fishes, 351-608 
Spoon-billed sturgeon, 61 
Spoonbill, 61 
Spoonbill cat, 61-63 
Spot. 580-83 

Spot-striped balloon fish, 628 
Spotted bass, 487, 580 
Spotted bergall, 596 
Spotted blenny, 668-69 
Spotted caranx, 422 
Spotted cat. 80-81 
Spotted cero. 400 
Spotted codling, 704-5 
Spotted flounder, 731 
Spotted grouper, 533-35 
Spotted hake, 704-5 
Spotted maskalonge, 302-4 
Spotted minnow, 120-21 
Spotted pipefish. 346 
Spotted ray, 48 
Spotted shiner, 157-58 
Spotted skate, 48-49 
Spotted stargazer, 658-60 
Spotted sucker, 108-9 
Spotted turbot, 724 



'8.0 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Spotted weakfish, 573-74 
Sprat herring, 209-11 
Spring herring, 199 
Spring mummichog, 312 
Sqnalidae, 43-45 
Squalius elongatus, 128 

margaritus, 130 
Sqnalns, 43-45 

acanthias, 43-45 

eanis, 23 

carcharias, 40 

cornubicus, 39 

glaucus, 25 

littoralis. 34 

maximus, 42 

obscurus, 25 

pnnctatns, 29 

spathula, 61 

squatina, 45 

(Carcharias) terrae-novae, 29 

tiburo, 30 

vulpes, 33 

zygaena, 31 
Squamipinnes, 601-7 
Squatina, 45-46 

angelus, 45 

dumerili, 45 x 

squatina, 45-46 
Squatinidae, 45-46 
Squeteague, 570-73 
Squid hound, 525 
Squirrel fish, 562 
Squirrel hake, 706, 707-8 
Starfish, 458 
Stargazers, 658-62 

little, 637 

spotted, 658-60 
Staten Island herring, 197 
Steel-back minnow, 113 
Steelhead, 252-54 
Stellifer, 576 
Stenotomus, 557-60 

argyrops, 558 

chrysops, 558-61 
Stephanolepis, 611-13 
Stichaeinae, 667-71 
Stichaeus, 668-69 

islandicns, 670 

punctatus, 668-69 



Sticklebacks, 335-44 

bloody, 343 

brook, 335-37 

Cayuga lake, 337 

four-spined, 342-44 

10-spined, 338-40 

two-spined, 340-42 
Stilbe chrysoleucas, 132 
Sting rays, 53-57 
Stink shad, 188 
Stizostedion, 493-99 

canadense, 498-99 
griseum, 499 

vitreum, 493-97 
Stizostedium canadense, 498 
var. griseum, 499 

vitreum, 494 
Stolephorus, 213-19 

argyrophanus, 216-17 

browni, 214 

brownii, 214-15 

eurystole, 216 

mitchilli, 218-19 

perfasciatus, 216, 217-18 
Stomodon Bilinearis, 691 
Stone bass, 532 
Stone cat, 91-92, 93-94 

margined, 95-96 

tadpole, 93 

variegated, 96-97 
Stone lugger, 104, 113-14 
Stone roller, 103-4, 113-14 
Stone toter, 104, 113 
Straw-colored minnow, 138-39 
Strawberry bass, 462-64 
Strawberry perch, 460, 463 
Streaked bass, 525 
Streaked head, 438 
Striped anchovy, 214-15 
Striped bass, 523, 524-27 
Striped basse, 525 
Striped killifish, 309 
Striped mud minnow, 289-91 
Striped mullet, 363-66 
Striped mummichog, 309 
Striped perch, 502 
Striped sea bass, 525 
Striped sea snail, 654-56 
Striped- sucker, 108-9 
Stromateidae, 455-59 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



781 



Stroinateus alepidotus, 456 
cryptosus, 458 

gardenii, 456 

longipinnis, 456 

paru, 456 

ti'iacantlius, 457 
Sturgeon, 63-69 

bony, 66 

common, 63-65 

lake, 66-67 

Ohio river, 66 

reel, 66 

rock, 66 

rudely, 66 

short-nosed, 68-69 

spoon-billed, 61 
Suckers, 97-112 

banded, 104 

black, 104 

black-nosed, 108 

brook, 101 

chub, 105-7 

common, 101-3 

golden, 111 

gray, 101 

hog, 103-4 

large-scaled, 104 

long-nosed, 99-101 

mud, 104 

northern, 99, 100 

oceanic, 689 

Oneida, 111 

pale, 101 

pilot, 687-88 

red-sided, 100 

rounded, 106 

sand, 108-9 

soft, 108 

spearflsh, 690 

spotted, 108-9 

striped, 108-9 

sweet, 106 

swordfish, 689-90 

white, 101 

white-nosed, 109-10 
Sucking fish, 686-87 
Sucking toad, 621 
Summer flounder, 717-20 
Summer herring, 203 
Summer mullet, 367 



Summer skate, 48 

Sun trout, 571 

Sunapee trout, 278-82 

Sunfish, 434, 459-93, 483-86, 015. 

banded, 471-73 

bass, 466 

blue, 480-82 

blue-spotted, 473-75, 477 

green, 475-77. 

long-eared, 478 

mud, 464-66 
Sunny, 484 
Surgeons, 606-7 
Surmullets, 377-79 
Susquehanna salmon, 494 
Sweet sucker, 106 
Swellfish, 620-22 
Swelltoad, 621 
Swingle-tail shark, 33-34 
Swiss Lake trout, 263-66 
Swordfish sucker, 689-90 
Swordfishes, 71, 407-9 
Synentognathi, 317-35 
Syngnathidae, 347-49 
Syngnathinae, 347-49 
Syngnathus fasciatus, 347 

fuscus, 347 

hippocampus, 350 

peckianus* 347 

viridescens, 347 
Synodontidae, 285-87 
Synodus, 285-87 

foetens, 286-87 

Tadpole stonecat, 93 
Tahoe trout, 250-52 
Tailor, 446 
Tailor shad, 198 
Tambor, 624 
Tang, 607 

Tarpon atlanticus, 177-79 
Tarpons, 177-80 
Tarpum, 177-79 
Tautog, 597-99 
Tautoga, 596-99 

americana, 597 

caerulea, 593 

niger, 597 

onitis, 597-99 



629 



'82 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Tautogolabrus, 593-9G 

adspersus, 593-9G 
Tectospondyli, 45-40 
Teleostei, 76-738 
Teleostoini, 60-76 
Ternnodon saltator, 445 
Tench, 126-27 
Tessellated darter, 514-16 
Tetraodon laevigatus, 618 

turgidus, 620 
Tetraodontidae, 617-24 
Tetrapturus, 405-7 

albidus, 406 

belOne, 405 

imperator, 405-7 
Tetrodon cnrvus, 618 

hispidus var. maculatus, 620 

laevigatus, 618 

mathematicus, 618 

mola, 629 

testudineus, 622 

trichocephalus, 624 

turgidus, 620 
Tetronarce, 51-52 

occidentalis, 51-52 
Teuthididae, 606-7 
Teuthis, 606-7 

bepatns, 607 
Thimble-eye mackerel, 381-83 
Thorn back, 339, 343 
Thorn-backed grunt, 444 
Thread herring, 188, 209-11 
Threadfins, 373-75 
Threadfish, 210, 432-33 
Thresher shark, 32-34 
Thunder pumper, 591 
Thunnus, 390-93 

thynnus, 391-93 
Thynnus affinis, 389 

brachypterus, 391 

brasiliensis, 388 

brevipinnis, 388 

brevirostris, 389 

pelamys, 386 

secundidorsalis, 391 

thunnina, 388 

vulgaris, 391 
Tiburon, 28-29 
Tiger shark, 24 
Timber croppie, 460 



Tin mouth, 463 
Tin perch, 460 
Tinea, 126-27 

tinea, 126-27 

vulgaris, 126 
Toad, 598 

sucking, 621 
Toadfish, 621, 660-62 

rock, 646 
Tobacco box, 484 
Togue, 267 
Tomcod, 586, 695-97 

brown, 696 

mixed, 696 

yellow, 696 

yellowish white, 696 
Toothed flatfish, 719 
Toothed herring, 184-85 
Toothed minnow, 312 
Top minnows, 307 
Topsail, gaff, 77-78 
Torpedo, 51-52 

occidentalis, 51 
Torsh, 699 
Trachinoidei, 658-62 
Trachinote, spinous, 441 
Trachinotus, 438-44 

argenteus, 441-43 

carolinus, 443-44 

cupreus, 441 

falcatus, 439-41 

fuscus, 439 

pampanus, 443 

rhomboides, 439 

spinosus, 439 
Trachurops, 426-27 

crumenophthalmus, 426-27 
Trachurus, 424-26 

saurus, 425 

trachurus, 425-26 
Trachynotus, 439 

carolinus, 443 

ovatus, 439 

pampanus, 443 

rhomboides, 439 
Trichidion octofilis, 373 

octonemus, 373 
Trichiuridae, 402-3 
Trichiurus, 402-3 

argenteus, 402 

lepturus, 402-3 



INDEX TO FISHES OF NEW YORK 



783 



Trichocyclus erinaceus, 625 
Trichodiodon, 624-26 

pilosus, 625-26 
Trichopterus, 428-29 
Trigger fishes, 608-11 

blue-striped, 610-11 
Trigla, 677, 682 

Carolina, 677 

cuculus, 682-83 

evolans, 679 

lineata, 679 

palmipes, 677 

strigata, 679 

tribulus, 681 

volitans, 684 
Triglidae, 676-83 
Triglopsis, 644-45 

stimpsoni, 644 

thoinpsoni, 644-45 
Triple-tails, 542-43, 602-4 
Trota, 255 
Trout 488, 491, 571 

aleby, 702 

brook. 6, 255, 272-75 

brown, 254-57, 488 

Gairdners, 252-54 

golden, 278-82 

gray, 267, 571 

hybrid. 5, 257-59 

lake, 266-71 

Lake Tahoe, 250-52 

Loch Leven, 259-61 

mountain, 488 

rainbow, 261-63 

red. 267 

red-throat, 250-52 

salmon. 180. 252-54, 266-71 

salt-water, 571 

Schoodic, 246 

sea, 571, 573-74 

Sebago, 246 

shad. 571 

silver, 278-82 

speckled, 273 

steelhead. 252-54 

sun, 571 

Sunapee, 278-82 

Swiss Lake, 263-66 

white, 488 
Trout perches, 351-52, 488 



Trout pickerel, 295 
Trout pike, 287 
True fishes, 60-76 
Truite, 255 
Trumpet fish, 345-4* i 
Trunkfishes, 615-17 
Trutta, 244 
Trygon hastata, 53-54 

sayi. 55 
Tuftgills. 347-51 
Tuladi. 207 
Tullibee, 238-41 
Tunny, 391-93 

little, 38S-90 
Turbot, 608-10 

spotted, 724 
Turbot flounder, 719 
Tylosurus, 317-23 

acus. 322-23 

crassus, 319 

gladius, 319 

longirostris, 317 

marinus. 317-19 

raphidoma, 319-21 

Ulcina, 048-49 
Ulvaria. 067-68 

subbit'urcata, 667-68 
Umbra. 287-91 

limi. 288-89 
pygmaea. 2S9 

pygmaea. 289-91 
Umbridae. 287-91 
Umbrina, 585 

alburnus, 585 

nebulosa. 585 
Unspotted balloonfis'h. 628-29 
Unspotted maskalonge, 304-7 
Upsilonphorus guttatus, 658 
Uranidea. 637-38 

formosa. 638 

gracilis, 637-38 

quiescens, 637 

richardsoni, 630 
Uranoscopidae. 058-60 
Uranoscopinae. 658-60 
Urophycis, 704-8 

chuss, 707-S 

regius, 704-5 

tenuis, 705-7 



TS4 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Variegated goby. 637 
Variegated stone cat, 9G-97 
Vomer. 48:5-84 

brownii, 433 

setipinnis, 433-34 
Von Behr trout, 255 

Wall-eyed herring-, 199-200 
Wall-eyed pike, 493-97 
Warinouth, 470-71 
Watery flounder, 724 
Weakfish, 570-73 

spotted, 573-74 
Weesick, 198 
Welshman, 491 
Whip ray, 55 
Whip sting ray. 55 
Whip-tailed rays, 53-59 
Whirligig mullet, 3G7-68 
White bass, 522-23 
White-bellied killifish, 311 
White cat, 80, 85-86 
White croppie, 460 
White-eyed shad, 188 
White hake, 705-7 
White mullet, 366-67 
White-nosed sucker, 109-10 
White perch, 528-31, 590-92 
White salmon, 495, 497 
White shad, 205 
White shark, great, 40-41 
White sneker, 101 
White-tailed remora, 687 
White trout, 488 

Whitebait, 194, 215, 217, 218-19, 357-59 
Whitefish, 205, 219, 446 

blackfin, 228 

common, 224-30, 240 

Hoy's, 241 

Labrador. 9, 224-30 

Menominee, 221 

mongrel, 238-41 

round, 221-24 
Whiting, 585-87, 691-93 

Bermuda, 586 
Will George, 598 
Wind fish, 122-23 
Window light, 724 
Windowpane, 723-24 
Wing-fish. 678 



Winninish, 246 
Winter flounder, 727-29 
Winter shad, 188 
Winter skate, 49 
Wolf fishes, 672-74 
Wrassefishes, 593-600 
Wreckfish, 532-33 
Wrymouths, 671-72 

Xenarchi, 352t54 
Xiphias, 407-9 

gladius, 408-9 

imperator, 405 
Xipkidiidae, 665-71 
Xiphiidae, 407-9 
Xystophorus, 412 

Yellow backs, 208 
Yellow bass, 487 
Yellow-bellied killifish, 31] 
Yellow caranx, 429 
Yellow cat, 84 
Yellow fins, 571 
Yellow mackerel, 430-31 
Yellow perch, 6, 488, 500-4, 529 
Yellow pike, 494 
Yellow scorpoena, 646 
Yellow-tail, 309, 562, 576-78 
Yellowish white tomcod, 696 

Zeidae, 600-1 
Zenopsis, 600-1 

ocellatus, 600-1 
Zeoidea, 600-8 
Zeus capillaris, 435 

ciliaris, 432 

crinitns, 432 

geometricus, 435 

ocellatus, 600 

rostratus, 435 

setapinnis, 433 

spinosus, 439 

vomer, 435 . 
Zoarces, 674-75 

anguillaris, 674-75 

viviparus, 674 
Zoarcidae, 674-75 
Zonichthys gigas, 416 
Zygaena malleus, 31 

tiburo, 30 



University of the State of New York 
New York State Museum 

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tions and illustrations of edible and unwholesome species contained in the 49th, 
51st and 52d reports have been revised and rearranged, and combined with 
others more recently prepared and constitute Museum memoir 4. 

Entomologist's annual reports on the injurious and other insects 

of the State of New York 1882-date. 

Reports 3-17 bound also with museum reports 40-46, 48-55 of which they form 
a part. Beginning with 1898 these reports have been issued as bulletins. 
Reports 3-4 are out of print, other reports with prices are : 



Report 
1 
2 
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6 

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Report 

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Price 
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UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Museum bulletins 1887^-date. O. To advance subscribers, $2 a year 
or 50c a year for those of any one division : ( 1 ) geology, including 
economic geology, general zoology, archeology and mineralogy, (2) paleon- 
tology, (3) botany, (4) entomology. 
Bulletins are also found with the aunual reports of the museum as follows: 

Bulletins Report Bulletins Report Bulletins Report 

12-15 48, v. 1 20-25 52, v. 1 35-36 54, v. 2 



16-17 


50. •< 


26-31 


53 " 


37-44 


" v. 3 


18-19 


51 " 


32-34 


54 " 


45-48 


" v. 4 



The letter and figure in parenthesis after the bulletin number indicate the di- 
vision and series number. G=geology, EG=economic geology, Z=general 
zoology, A=archeology, M = mineralogy, P=paleoutology, H=botany, E^ento- 
mology, Misc^miscellaneous. 

Volume i. bnos. $1.50 in cloth 

1 (Zi) Marshall, W: B. Preliminary List of New York Unionidae. 
2op. Mar. 1892. jc. 

2 (Bi) Peck, C: H. Contributions to the Botany of the State of New 
York. 66p. 2pl. May 1887. [jjv] 

3 (EGi) Smock, J: C. Building Stone in the State of New York. 
152P. Mar. 1888. Ota of print. > 

4 (Mi) Nason, F. L. Some New York Minerals and their Localities. 
2op. rpl. Aug. 1888. $c. 

5 (Ei) Lintner, J. A. White Oub of the May ^Beetle. 32p. il. Nov. 
1888. IOC. 

6 (E2) Cut-worms. 36p. il. Nov. 1888. 10c. 

Volume 2. 4 nos. [#/.jo] in cloth 

7 (EG2) Smock, J: C. First Report on the Iron Mines and Iron Ore 
Districts in New York. 6+70P. map. June 1889. Out of print. 

8 (B2) Peck, C: H. Boleti of the United States. g6p. Sep. 1889. [50c] 

9 (Z2) Marshall, W: B. Beaks of Unionidae Inhabiting the Vicinity 
of Albany, N. Y. 24p. ipl. Aug. 1890. ioc. 

10 (EG3) Smock, J: C. Building Stone in New York. 2iop. map. 
tab. Sep. 189c. 40c. 

Volume 3. 5 nos. 

11 (EG4) Merrill, F: J. H. Salt and Gypsum Industries in New York. 
92p. i2pl. 2 maps, 11 tab. Ap. 1893. 40c. 

12 (EG5) Ries, Heinrich. Clay Industries of New York. 174P. 2pl. 
map. Mar. 1895. joe. 

13 (E3) Lintner, J. A. Some Destructive Insects of New York State; 
San Jose Scale. 54P. 7pl. Ap. 1895. 15c. 

14 (Gi) Kemp, J. F. Geology of Moriah and Westport Townships, 
Essex Co. N. Y., with notes on the iron mines. 38p. 7pl. 2 maps. 
Sep. 1895. ioc. 

15 (EG6) Merrill, F: J. H. Mineral Resources of New York. 224P. 
2 maps. Sep. 1895. 40c. 

Volume 4 

16 (Ai) Beauchamp, W: M. Aboriginal Chipped Stone Implements 
of New York. 86p. 23pl. Oct. 1897. 25c. 

17 (EG7). Merrill, F: J. H. Road Materials and Road Building in 
New York. 52P. i4pl. 2 maps 34x45, 68x92cm. Oct. 1897. 15c. 
Maps separate ioc each, two for ijc. 

18 (A2) Beauchamp, W: M. Polished Stone Articles used by the New 
York Aborigines. 104P. 35pl. Nov. 1897. 25c. 

19 (G2) Merrill, F: J. H. Guide to the Study of the Geological Col- 
lections of the New York State Museum. i62p. 119PI. map. 
Nov. 1898. 40c. 

Volume 5 

20 (E4) Felt, E. P. Elm-leaf Beetle in New York State. 46p. il. 5pl. 
June 1898. 5c. 



MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS 

21 (G3) Kemp, J. F. Geology of the Lake Placid Region. 24P. ipl. 

map. Sep. 1898. $c. 

22 (A3) Beauchamp, W: M. Earthenware of the New York Ab- 
origines. 78p. 33pl. Oct. 1898. 25c. 

23 (E5) Felt, E. P. 14th Report of the State Entomologist 1898. 
i5op. il. 9pl. Dec. 1898. 20c. 

24 (E6) Memorial of the Life and Entomologic Work of J. A. 

Lintner Ph.D. State Entomologist 1874-98; Index to Entomologist's 
Reports 1-13. 3i6p. ipl. Oct. 1899. 35c. 

Supplement to 14th report of the state entomologist. 

25 (B3) Peck, C: H. Report of the State Botanist 1898. 76p. 5pl. 
Oct. 1899. O u t of print. 

Volume 6 

26 (E7) Felt, E. P. Collection, Preservation and Distribution of New 
York Insects. 36p. il. Ap. 1899., fc. 

27 (E8) Shade-tree Pests in New York State. 26p. il. 5pl. May 

1899. 5c. 

28 (B4) Peck, C: H. Plants of North Elba. 2o6p. map. June 1899. 
20c. 

29 (Z3) Miller, G. S. jr. Preliminary List of New York Mammals. 
[24p. Oct. 1899. 15c. 

30 (EG8) Orton, Edward. Petroleum and Natural Gas in New York. 
i36p. il. 3 maps. Nov. 1899. 15c. 

31 (E9) Felt, E. P. 15th Report of the State Entomologist 1899. 
i28p. June 1900. 15c. 

Volume 7 

32 (A4) Beauchamp, W: M. Aboriginal Occupation of New York. 
i9op. i6pl. 2 maps. Mar. 1900. 30c. 

33 (Z4) Farr,M. S. Check List of New York Birds. 224P. Ap. 1900. 25c. 

34 (Pi) Cumings, E. R. Lower Silurian System of Eastern Mont- 
gomery County; Prosser, C: S. Notes on the Stratigraphy of Mo- 
hawk Valley and Saratoga County, N. Y. 74p. iopl. map. 
May 1900. 15c. 

35 (EG9) Ries, Heinrich. Clays of New York: their Properties and 
Uses. 456p. i4opl. map. June 1900. $1, cloth. 

36 (Eio) Felt, E. P. 16th Report of the State Entomologist 1900. 
n8p. i6pl. Mar. 1901. 23c. 

Volume 8 

37 (En) Catalogue of Some of the More Important Injurious and 

Beneficial Insects of New York State. 54P. il. Sep. 1900. 10c. 

38 (Z5) Miller, G. S. jr. Key to the Land Mammals of Northeastern 
North America. io6p. Oct. 1900. 15c. 

39 (P2) Clarke, J: M.; Simpson, G: B. & Loomis, F: B. Paleontologic 
Papers 1. 72p. il. i6pl. Oct. 1900. zjv. 

Contents: Clarke, J: M. A Remarkable Occurrence of Orthoeeras in the 

Oneouta Beds of the Chenango Valley, N. Y. 
Paropsonema Cryptophya; a Peculiar Echinoderm from the Intuinescens- 

zone (Portage Beds) of Western New York. 

Dictyonine Hexactinellid Sponges from the Upper Devonicof New York. 

The Water Biscuit of Squaw Island, Canandaigua Lake/.N. Y. 

Simpson, G: B. Preliminary Descriptions of New Genera of Paleozoic Rugose 

Corals. 
Loomis, F: B. Siluric Fungi from Western New York. 

40 (Z6) Simpson, G: B. Anatomy and Physiology of Polygyra albola- 
bris and Limax maximus and Embryology of Limax maximus. 
82p. 28pl. Oct. 1901. 23c. 

41 (A5) Beauchamp, W: M. Wampum and Shell Articles used by 
New York Indians. i66p. 28pl. Mar. 1901. 30c. 



UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

42 (P3) Ruedemann, Rudolf. Hudson River Beds near Albany and 
their Taxonomic Equivalents. ii4p. 2pl. map. Ap. 1901. 25c. 

43 (Z7) Kellogg, J. L. Clam and Scallop Industries of New York. 
36p. 2pl. map. Ap. 1901. 10c. 

44 (EG10) Ries, Heinrich. Lime and Cement Industries of New York ; 
Eckel, E. C. Chapters on the Cement Industry. 332P. loipl. 
2 maps. Dec. 190 1. 85c, cloth. 

Volume g 

45 (P4) Grabau, A. W. Geology and Paleontology of Niagara Falls and 
Vicinity. 286p. il. i8pl. map. Ap. 1901. 65c ; cloth goc. 

46 (E12) Felt, E. P. Scale Insects of Importance and a List of the 
Species in New York. 94P. il. i5pl. June 1901. 25c. 

47 (E13) Needham, J. G. & Betten, Cornelius. Aquatic Insects in the 
Adirondacks. 234P. il. 36pl. Sep. 1901. 45c. 

48 (G4) Wood worth, J. B. Pleistocene Geology of Nassau County and 
Borough of Queens. 58p.il.9pl. map. Dec. 1901. 23c. 

Volume 10 

49 (P5) Ruedemann, Rudolf ; Clarke, J: M. & Wood, Elvira. Paleonto- 
logic Papers 2. 240P. 13PI. Dec. 1901. 40c. 

Contents: Ruedemann, Rudolf. Trenton Conglomerate of Rysedorph Hill. 
Clarke, J: M. Limestones of Central and Western New York Interbedded with 

Bituminous Shales of the Marcellus Stage. 
Wood, Elvira. Marcellus Limestones of Lancaster, Erie Co. N. Y. 
Clarke, J: M. New Agelacrinites. 
Value of Amnigenia as an Indicator of Fresh- water Deposits during the 

Devonic of New York. Ireland and the Rhiueland. 

50 (A6) Beauchamp, W: M. Horn and Bone Implements of the New 
York Indians. ii2p. 43pl. Mar. 1902. 30c. 

51 (Z8) Eckel, E. C. & Paulmier, F. C. Catalogue of Reptiles andBa- 
trachians of New York. 64P. il. ipl. Ap. 1902. 15c. 
Eckel, E. C. Serpents of Northeastern United States. 
Paulmier, F. C. Lizards, Tortoises and Batrachians of New York. 

52 (P6) Clarke, J: M. Report of the State Paleontologist 1901. 28op. 
il. gpl. map. 1 tab. July 1902. 40c. 

53 (E14) Felt, E. P. 17th Report of the State Entomologist 1901. 
232P. il. 6pl. Aug. 1902. joe. 

54 (B5) Peck, C: H. Report of the State Botanist 1901. s8p. 7pl. 
Nov. 1902. 40c. 

55 (A7) Beauchamp, W: M. Metallic Implements of the New York 
Indians. 94P. 38pl. June 1902. 23c. 

56 (G5) Merrill, F: J. H. Geologic Map of New York. In press. 

57 (E15) Felt, E. P. Elm Leaf Beetle in New York State. 46p. il. 
8pl. Aug. 1902. i^c. 

58 (M2) Whitlock, H. P. Guide to the Mineralogic Collections of the 
New York State Museum. 150P. il. 39PI. 1 1 models. Sep. 1902. 40c. 

59 (E16) Felt, E. P. Grapevine Root Worm. 4op. 6pl. Dec. 1902. 15c. 

60 (Z9) Bean, T. H. Catalogue of the Fishes of New York. 784P. 
Feb. 1903. $i } cloth. 

61 (EGii) Dickinson, H. T. Quarries of Bluestone and other Sand- 
stones in New York. In press. 

62 (Misci) Merrill, F: J. H. Directory of Natural History Museums 
in United States and Canada. In press. 

63 Clarke, J: M. Stratigraphy of Canandaigua and Naples Quadrangles. 
2 maps. In press. 

Catalogue of Type Specimens of Paleozoic Fossils in the New York 
State Museum. In press. 

Ellis, Mary. Bibliography and Index of New York State Museum 
Publications 1848-1902. In press. 
Needham, J. G. 6^ others. Aquatic Insects of New York. In press. 



MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS 

Museum memoirs 1889-date. Q. 

1 Beecher, C: E. & Clarke/' J: M. Development of some Silurian 
Brachiopoda. g6p. 8pl. Oct. 1889. Out of print. 

2 Hall, James & Clarke, J: M. Paleozoic Reticulate Sponges. 35op. il. 
7opl. 1898. $1, cloth. 

3 Clarke, J: M. The Oriskany Fauna of Becraft Mountain, Columbia 
Co. N. Y. i28p. 9pl. Oct. 1900. 80c. 

4 Peck, C: H. N. Y. Edible Fungi, 1895-99. io6p. 25PI. Nov. 1900. 75c. 
This includes revised descriptions and illustrations of fungi reported in the 

49th, 51st and 52d reports of tbe state botanist. 

5 Clarke, J: M. & Ruedemann, Rudolf. Guelph Formation and Fauna 
of New York State. In press. 

6 Clarke, J: M. Naples Fauna in Western New York. In press. 
Felt, E. P. Insects Affecting Park and Woodland Trees. In prep a- 
ration. 

Natural history of New York. 30V. il. pi. maps. Q. Albany 1842-94. 

division 1 zoology. De Kay, James E. Zoology of New York ; or, The New 
York Fauna; comprising detailed descriptions of all the animals hitherto ob- 
served within tbe State of New York with brief notices of tbose occasionally 
found near its borders, and accompanied by appropriate illustrations. 5v. il. 
pi. maps. sq.Q. Albany 1842-44. Out of print. 
Historical introduction to the series by Gov. W: H. Seward. 178p. 

v. lptl Mammalia. 13-f-146p. 33pl. 1842. 
800 copies with hand-colored plates. 

v. 2 pt2 Birds. 12-f-380p. 141pl. 1844. 
Colored plates. 

v. 3 pt3 Reptiles and Amphibia. 7+98p. pt4 Fishes. 15+41op. 1842. 
pt3-4 bound together. 

v. 4 Plates to accompany v. 3. Reptiles and Amphibia 23pl. Fishes 79pl. 1842. 
300 copies with hand-colored plates. 

v. 5 pt5 Mollusca. 4+271p. 40pi. pt6 Crustacea. 70p. 13pl. 1813-44. 
Hand-colored plates: pto-6 bound together. 

division 2 botany. Torrey, John. Flora of the State of New York; comprising 
full descriptions of all the indigenous and naturalized plants hitherto dis- 
covered in the State, with remarks on their economical and medical proper- 
ties. 2v. il. pi. sq. Q. Albany 1843. Out of print. 

v. 1 Flora of the State of New York. 12+484p. 72pl. 1843. 
300 copies with hand-colored plates. 

v. 2 Flora of the State of New York. 572p. 89pl. 1843. 
300 copies with hand-colored plates. 

division 3 mineralogy. Beck, Lewis C. Mineralogy of New York ; comprising 
detailed descriptions of the minerals hitherto found in the State of New York, 
and notices of their uses in the arts and agriculture, il. pi. sq. Q. Albany 
1842. Out of print. 

v. 1 ptl Economical Mineralogy. pt2 Descriptive Mineralogy. 24-f-536p. 1842. 
8 plates additional to those printed as part of the text. 

division 4 geology. Mather, W: W.; Emmons, Ebenezer; Vanuxeru, Lardner 
& Hall, James. Geology of New York. 4v. il. pi. sq. Q. Albany 1842-43. 
Out of print. 

v. lptl Mather, W: W. First Geological District. 37-f653p. 46pl. 1843. 

v.2pt2 Emmons, Ebenezer. Second Geological District. 10+437p. 17pl. 1842. 

V. 3 pt3 Vanuxem, Lardner. Tbird Geological District. 306p. 1842. 

v. 4 pt4 Hall, James. Fourth Geological District. 22+683p. Map and 19pl. 
1843. 

division 5 agriculture. Emmons, Ebenezer. Agriculture of New York; com- 
prising an account of the classification, composition and distribution of the 
soils and rocks and the natural waters of the different geological formations, 
together with a condensed view of the meteorology and agricultural produc- 
tions of tbe State. 5v. il. pi. sq. Q. Albany 1846-^54. Out of print. 

v. 1 Soils of the State, their Composition aud Distribution. ll+371p. 21pl. 
1846. 



UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

v. 2 Analyses of Soils, Plants, Cereals, etc. 8+343+46p. 42pl. 1849. 
With hand-colored plates. 

v. 3 Fruits, etc. 8-f-340p. 1851. 
v. 4 Plates to accompany v. 3. 95pl. 1851. 
Hand-colored. 

v. 5 Insects Injurious to Agriculture. 8+272p. 50pl. 1854. 
With hand-colored plates. 

division 6 paleontology. Hall, James. Paleontology of New York. 8v. il. 
pi. sq. Q. Albauy 1847-94. Bound in cloth. 

v. 1 Organic Remains of the Lower Division of the New York System. 23+338p, 
99pl. 1847. Out of print. 

v. 2 Organic Remains of Lower Middle Division of the New York System. 
8+362 p. 104pl. 1852. Out of print. 

v. 3 Organic Remains of the Lower Helderberg Group and the Oriskany Sand- 
stone, pt 1, text,. 12+532p. 1859. [$j.Jo] 

pt2, 143pl. 1861. [$^.50] 

v. 4 Fossil JBrackiopoda of the Upper Helderberg, Hamilton, Portage and Che- 
mung Groups. ll-j-l-f-428p. 99pl. 1867. $2.30. 

v. 5 ptl Lamellibranchiata 1. Monomyaria of the Upper Helderberg, Hamilton 
and Chemung Groups. 18-J-268p. 45pl. 1884. $2.30. 

Lamellibranchiata 2. Dim, v aria of the Upper Helderberg, Hamilton, 

Portage and Chemung Groups. 62+293p. 51pl. 1885. $2.50. 

pt2 Gasteropoda, Pteropoda and Cephalopoda of the Upper Helderberg, 

Hamilton, Portage and Chemung Groups. 2v. 1879. v. 1, text. 15+492p. 
v. 2, 120pl. $2.jofor2v. 

v. 6 Corals and Bryozoa of the Lower and Upper Helderberg and Hamilton 
Groups. 24+298p. 67pl. 1887. $2.30. 

v. 7 Trilobites and other Crustacea of the Oriskany, Upper Helderberg, Hamil- 
ton, Portage, Chemung and Catskill Groups. 64+236p. 46pl. 1888. Cont. 
supplement to v. 5, pt2. Pteropoda, Cephalopoda and Annelida. 42p. 18pl. 
1888. $2.jo. 

v. 8 ptl Introduction to the Study of the Genera of the Paleozoic Brachiopoda. 
16+367p. 44pl. 1892. $2.30. 

pt2 Paleozoic Brachiopoda. 16+394p. 84pl. 1894. $2.50. 

Museum handbooks 1893-date. 7^x12^ cm. 

In quantities, 1 cent for each 16 pages or less. Single copies postpaid as 
below. 

H5 New York State Museum. i4p. il. jc. 

Outlines history and work of the museum; witb list of staff and scientific 
publications, 1893. New edition in press. 

H13 Paleontology. 8p. 2c. 

Brief outline of State Museum work in paleontology under heads : Definition ; 
Relation to biology ; Relation to stratigraphy ; History of paleontology in New 
York. 

H15 Guide to Excursions in the Fossiliferous Rocks of New York. 

1 2 op. 8c. 

Itineraries of 32 trips covering nearly the entire series of Paleozoic rocks, pre- 
pared specially for the use of teachers and students desiring to acquaint them- 
selves more intimately with the classic rocks of this State. 

Hl6 Entomology. i6p. 2c. 

H17 Economic Geology. In preparation. 

Maps. Merrill, F: J. H. Economic and Geologic Map of the State 

of New York. 59x67 cm. 1894. Scale 14 miles to 1 inch. Out of 

print. 

New edition in preparation. 

Printed also with Museum bulletin 15 and the 48th museum report, v. 1. 

Geologic Map of New York. 1901. Scale 5 miles to 1 inch. In 

atlas form $3; mounted on rollers $5. lower Hudson sheet 60c. 
The lower Hudson sheet, geologically colored, comprises Rockland, Orange? 
Dutchess, Putnam, Westchester, New York, Richmond, Kings, Queens and 
Nassau counties, and parts of Sullivan, Ulster and Suffolk counties; also north- 
eastern New Jersey and part of western Connecticut. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




005 465 416 9 



